Joe Buck was playing hurt on ESPN’s special “Monday Night Football” broadcast Saturday, but no one watching would have known it.
The ESPN announcer called Saturday’s Seattle Seahawks-San Francisco 49ers game with a black eye that he obtained during the week. On X, Buck said he took a knee to the eye while trying to break up a fight between his 7-year-old twins.
Buck credited makeup artist Kathleen Vybihal with ensuring that the viewing audience had no idea.
Not all heroes wear capes, but some bring them to work. Our makeup artiste, the great Kathleen Vybihal hid this from high def cameras tonight. Nothing like a knee to the eye while breaking up a fight between 7 year old twins 48 hours before a big game!!! He got me!! pic.twitter.com/mCJMSzosiL
— Joe Buck (@Buck) January 4, 2026
The after … pic.twitter.com/2nhSYMBDSM
— Joe Buck (@Buck) January 4, 2026
A few eagle-eyed viewers could tell that something was slightly off with Buck’s eye. To most, however, it wasn’t even noticeable unless you were really looking closely.
Not Joe Buck with the contouring lmao pic.twitter.com/TFwfkcWp1U
— jordan (@worldfamouskale) January 4, 2026
Buck does not have the best luck with injuries, either to himself or to those around him. Fortunately, this one did not impact his ability to call the game.
