Who is singing the national anthem at the Texans vs Steelers NFL Wild Card game?
At Acrisure Stadium today, the Houston Texans and the Pittsburgh Steelers will face off for a place in the NFL playoffs’ Divisional round.
Singer Norelle Simpson will be performing the national anthem at Acrisure Stadium tonight, as the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Houston Texans in the NFL playoffs’ final Wild Card matchup.
A Super Bowl singer
A musician who is well acquainted with the NFL stage, Simpson won’t be making her first appearance at a Steelers home game. In January last year, she sang the “Star-Spangled Banner” before Pittsburgh’s Week 18 regular-season game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
And, among numerous other performances at NFL games across the U.S., the Cleveland native has served as a backing singer for musical acts at not one, but two Super Bowls.
In 2020, she was on stage for Jennifer Lopez and Shakira’s Super Bowl LIV halftime show, at the midway point of the Kansas City Chiefs’ victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Miami Gardens. Three years later, she supported Rihanna’s halftime performance at Super Bowl LVII, as the Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in Glendale, Arizona.
“Thank you SO much to the Steelers”
In a social-media message on Sunday, Simpson spoke of her excitement at debuting as the national-anthem singer for a postseason NFL clash. “2026 is taking off with a lot of firsts!!”, she wrote. “My first Monday Night Football game and my very first ever playoff game!!”
She added: “Thank you SO much to the Steelers for having me as their National Anthem Performer for their home playoff game!!!!"
How to watch the Texans vs the Steelers
In Monday’s Wild Card clash in Pennsylvania, the No. 4-seeded Steelers will seek their first victory in a playoff game since 2016. Mike Tomlin’s men face the AFC’s No. 5 seed, with the winner moving on to a Divisional matchup against the No. 2-seeded New England Patriots.
The Texans vs the Steelers takes place at 8:15 p.m. ET/5:15 p.m. PT. In the U.S., the game will air nationally on ESPN and ABC. Your streaming options include fubo, which offers new users a free, introductory trial.
You can also follow live-text coverage of the action right here at AS USA. NFL expert Dane Arlauckas will be talking you through the game, play by play.
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