On Sunday night’s Football Night in America, viewers caught an unusual moment involving Rodney Harrison that quickly got people talking. During a pregame segment ahead of the Denver-Washington matchup, Harrison appeared to struggle while responding to a question from colleague Jac Collinsworth. The exchange was brief but noticeable, and it didn’t take long for social media to light up with speculation about what might have been going on.
But Harrison has since cleared the air, offering a reassuring update on Monday. The former Patriots safety explained that what viewers saw was the result of nothing more than good old-fashioned exhaustion.
“I was exhausted working on a few hours of sleep watching my son play Saturday night,” Harrison said via text. “I had 3 hours of sleep on Sunday and had to work all day.
I was suffering from exhaustion. But I’m good.”
That son is Christian Harrison, a defensive back for the Cincinnati Bearcats. The Bearcats were on the road Saturday night, taking on TCU in Fort Worth, Texas.
🚨🚨PRAYERS🚨🚨
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) December 1, 2025
This video of #NFL legend & NBC analyst Rodney Harrison has gone viral on social media, and fans are concerned.
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Thoughts and prayers are with Rodney — this was very scary to watch.
pic.twitter.com/nsDjLeBQzt
So between the travel, the game, and the quick turnaround back to work for NBC’s Sunday night broadcast, it’s no surprise Harrison was running on fumes. Add in the chaos of a holiday weekend, and the timeline starts to make a lot more sense.
Harrison, who has two sons playing college football, has long been known for his intensity and commitment-traits that carried him through a standout NFL career and into his second act as a studio analyst. But even the most dedicated pros hit a wall sometimes, and this was one of those moments.
The good news? Harrison says he’s fine, and that this was just a case of pushing through a packed weekend schedule. No health issues, no deeper concerns-just a dad doing what dads do: showing up for his kids, even if it means a few sleepless nights.
It was a brief blip on a busy NFL Sunday, but it’s also a reminder that the people we see on screen are grinding behind the scenes, too. Harrison’s update puts any lingering concerns to rest-and gives us one more reason to appreciate the hustle it takes to balance family and football at the highest level.