NFL fans have ripped into a unique electric guitar rendition of the national anthem ahead of Monday Night Football, quickly branding it as one of ‘the worst ever.’
The pregame controversy unfolded at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis before the primetime showdown between the Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings.
John Jeffers, known as the childhood friend of Vikings legend Adrian Peterson, was tasked with performing the Star-Spangled Banner solo on an electric guitar.
While the screaming guitar solo was intended to hype up the raucous home crowd before kickoff, football fans flocked to social media to blast the performance.
Taking to X, one fan wrote: ‘That was a terrible National Anthem for the Bills game.’
‘What a s**** national anthem,’ another disgruntled user wrote online.
NFL fans have ripped into a unique electric guitar rendition of the national anthem on Monday
Similarly, another said: ‘Let’s honor our veterans before Veterans Day by playing the worst national anthem ever.’
‘Fire the idiot who hired the guitarist to play the national anthem tonight at the Buffalo/ Vikings game. That was hideous. Our national anthem should be respected, not trivialized,’ another wrote.
‘That was possibly the worst national anthem in 25 years. And on a week where we have Veterans Day no less. Sad,’ one user remarked.
Despite the online backlash surrounding the pregame festivities, the Minnesota crowd remained loud as the Vikings and Bills kicked off their Monday night clash.
Meanwhile, just hours before the game, it was revealed that Odell Beckham Jr was in contention to make his Vikings debut after being signed to the active roster before Minnesota’s clash with the Buffalo Bills.
The 34-year-old NFL veteran has not made a catch in the NFL since 2024 but he is set to be back on the field on Monday night.
Beckham was signed by the New York Giants ahead of the 2026 season, only to be cut in September after just three games and one target.
He spent training camp in New York trying to secure an emotional return to the team that drafted him No 12 overall in 2014, but he was released from his $1.3 million deal after being on the field for just 20 snaps.
The anthem rendition was performed before the Bills-Vikings clash in Minnesota
Before long, however, he was back in the league with Minnesota – the sixth different team of his 11-year NFL career. The wide receiver joined the Vikings practice squad back on October 7.
His exit from New York, while mutual on paper, appeared to leave a bitter taste in Beckham Jr’s mouth.
‘[I don’t know] why they even gave me the run along,’ he wrote on Instagram. ‘I [could have] really been playing this year somewhere and making [an] impact and I mean that from a person whose (sic) humbled by God and life.’
‘I’m super smart!!!!’ he added. ‘But I didn’t see this one, my brotha. They got me!!!’
