Cris Collinsworth’s son, Jac, broke the news to him. It was so soon after the Bears’ 16-15 loss to the Eagles in the wild-card-round game in January that father, son and NBC play-by-play man Al Michaels were still in the broadcast booth at stunned Soldier Field.
Cris has been in broadcasting long enough to know that’s rarely a good thing. The Bears-Packers game Sept. 5 begins his 11th season paired with Michaels on NBC’s “Sunday Night Football.” Collinsworth figured he’d be hearing from his boss in the coming days, maybe even at an in-person meeting.
Cris had coined the phrase “double doink” in describing Cody Parkey’s decisive 43-yard field-goal attempt, which hit left upright, then the crossbar before dropping into the end zone and ending the Bears’ season.