Few pregame moments at Soldier Field have traveled this far this fast. A Chicago mariachi ensemble played “The Star-Spangled Banner” before Monday Night Football, and within hours, the performance had become a flashpoint online.
Mariachi Herencia de México performed the anthem before the Bears hosted the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 28. Praise poured in from many viewers, but a wave of harsh criticism soon followed, and the band pushed back.
A first at Soldier Field
The Bears booked the group as part of their Latino Heritage Month celebration for the nationally televised Week 3 matchup. According to CBS Chicago, it marked the first time a mariachi band performed the anthem at Soldier Field.
Yardbarker described the moment as the first mariachi anthem in the franchise’s 106-year history. The musicians performed in traditional mariachi attire, a detail that would later become central to the online argument.
For many in the stadium, the performance was the centerpiece of a night designed to honor the city’s Latino community. Online, however, reaction to the same few minutes of music broke sharply along very different lines.
Who is Mariachi Herencia de México
Mariachi Herencia de México grew out of the Mariachi Heritage Foundation’s work, bringing mariachi education to Chicago public schools. César Maldonado founded the performing ensemble in 2016, creating a stage for young musicians emerging from those programs.
Its debut album, “Nuestra Herencia,” earned a Latin Grammy nomination in 2017. The ensemble later performed at venues including the Kennedy Center and Ravinia.
The group’s official biography describes its current 14 musicians as representing a new bicultural generation in the United States.
A full night of celebration
The anthem was only one piece of a larger program. CBS Chicago reported the evening included live music, storytelling, fan activations, and wearable flag giveaways around the stadium before and during the game.
Chicago native Sandra Delgado, a singer and actor, performed one of her original songs at halftime. She described her set as a journey through Latinidad, blending African drums, salsa and cumbia, per CBS Chicago.
Two local students also had a role. Alison Segarra of Amundsen High School and Alejandro Gonzalez of Dundee-Crown High School served as the team’s 2026 Latino Heritage Month Youth Leaders and honorary captains for the coin toss.
Social media splits over the rendition
Not everyone embraced the performance. OutKick, Fox News’ sports outlet, highlighted posts from viewers who objected to the band’s traditional attire, arguing it symbolized Mexico rather than the United States during America’s anthem.
Other critics questioned whether the national anthem was an appropriate vehicle for a heritage celebration at all. Some posts turned openly hostile, dismissing the group in crude terms that went well beyond debate over musical style.
Plenty of viewers pushed back just as quickly, defending the musicians and praising the arrangement. The back-and-forth soon spread well beyond football circles, carrying a pregame tradition into a much wider cultural conversation.
A band member pushes back
Band member Alonso Orozco Jr. addressed the backlash the next day. He said the group performed the anthem “with love and respect for a great nation,” and called the opportunity incredible for everyone involved.
He also said “a huge wave of racist criticism has emerged” after the broadcast. His comments, shared widely online, framed the response as a painful contrast to what the musicians considered an honor.
For the group’s supporters, the moment carried extra weight. The ensemble was built to connect Mexican American students with their heritage, making the anthem stage a milestone for a Chicago-grown program.
Sen. Ruben Gallego weighs in
The controversy soon reached Capitol Hill. Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego, a Democrat, publicly responded to the band, offering sympathy and praise for a performance that had drawn so much heat across social media.
“I am sorry you are going through this, you did a beautiful job,” Gallego wrote. “America is proud of you and loves you.” His comments were highlighted by OutKick and Yardbarker as the debate continued.
Gallego’s response brought even more attention to the story. It also pushed the conversation further from sports, placing a pregame musical performance at the center of a broader national discussion about identity and belonging.
Bears deliver on the field
Once the music ended, the Bears gave their home crowd plenty to cheer. Chicago beat Philadelphia 27-7, leaving both teams at 2-1 after three weeks of the season, according to NBC Sports.
Case Keenum started in place of Caleb Williams, who was sidelined with a hamstring injury. The third-string quarterback completed 24 of 34 passes for 247 yards with 2 touchdown passes and ran for another score.
Chicago outgained Philadelphia 375 to 248 yards and controlled the ball for 36:53. Keenum also joined Ryan Fitzpatrick as the only quarterbacks to win starts for 7 different NFL teams, NBC Sports reported.
Heritage month in context
The Bears’ celebration fell during National Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 each year. The observance recognizes the histories, cultures and contributions of Americans with roots across Latin America and Spain.
The tradition began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon B. Johnson. President Ronald Reagan expanded it to a 30-day period in 1988, according to the federal government’s official Hispanic Heritage Month website.
NFL teams regularly mark the month with themed games, community events and guest performers. Monday’s anthem showed how a single pregame moment during those celebrations can reach far beyond the stadium within hours.
Fun fact: Mariachi is recognized worldwide as a cultural treasure. UNESCO added “Mariachi, string music, song and trumpet” to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2011.
TL;DR
- Mariachi Herencia de México performed the anthem before the Bears-Eagles game on Sept. 28.
- It was the first mariachi anthem performance at Soldier Field, per CBS Chicago.
- Some viewers criticized the band’s attire and the choice of anthem performer online.
- Band member Alonso Orozco Jr. called out “racist criticism”; Sen. Ruben Gallego defended the group.
- The Bears beat the Eagles 27-7 behind backup quarterback Case Keenum.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
