Who is singing the national anthem for the Patriots vs Broncos Conference Championship game?

Before the hard hits, the slick plays, and the NFL athletes and coaches create season-defining headlines, the New England Patriots against the Denver Broncos Conference Championship will begin quietly, with a single voice at midfield.

That voice belongs to Nathaniel Rateliff, the singer-songwriter chosen to perform The Star-Spangled Banner ahead of kickoff, as confirmed by the Broncos.

Rateliff isn’t the kind of anthem pick designed to steal the spotlight, although he’ll certainly have his few moments in it. His reputation has been built the slower way, through touring, small venues, and on more gritty rather than glossy songs. Whether performing solo or with The Night Sweats, his style is rooted in Americana, soul, and folk, so there’ll be plenty of feeling.

You could argue that makes him a natural fit for a championship setting, where you want the anthem to ground the moment but certainly not overshadow it. Rateliff’s performance should set the perfect tone for what is a highly-anticipated clash.

It’s worth noting too that there’s a subtle regional note to the choice. With the Denver Broncos playing for a place in the Super Bowl, selecting a Colorado-based artist adds a little familiarity without breaking with the league’s desired neutral tone.

The anthem will mark the final pause before the noise returns, just minutes before kickoff, as the season narrows to one last step towards Super Bowl LX. “Say, can you see...?

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