Kendra Meinert

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Are you ready for a crowd-surfing Clay Matthews?

We thought so.

The Green Bay Packers linebacker is among 11 NFL players who will join country superstar Carrie Underwood for this year's opening theme for "Sunday Night Football" on NBC. The weekly intro, which has the Grammy winner singing "Waiting All Day for Sunday Night," will debut Sept. 7 for the Indianapolis Colts-Denver Broncos game.

Matthews, who was also featured in last year's "SNF" performance (perhaps it's the hair?), participated in the 2014 shoot in June. His commentary from on the set included: "This year they've got me stage diving and crowd surfing. It's always something to look forward to."

In a 2½-minute making-of video of the shoot on YouTube he's shown getting put in a harness for the crowd-surfing footage.

Other participating NFL players are Jimmy Graham of the New Orleans Saints, Colin Kaepernick of the San Francisco 49ers, Luke Kuechly of the Carolina Panthers, Eli Manning of the New York Giants, Peyton Manning of the Denver Broncos, Brandon Marshall of the Chicago Bears, LeSean McCoy of the Philadelphia Eagles, Philip Rivers of the San Diego Chargers, DeMarcus Ware of the Dallas Cowboys and Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks.

Of the 11, McCoy is quoted as saying, "They might want me to replace Carrie Underwood ... out of all the players, I'm definitely the best singer."

Last season, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was also one of the 13 players featured in the opening number.

The theme will be used each week of the season, culminating with a special version for the broadcast of Super Bowl XLIX on NBC on Feb. 1.

The song is set to Joan Jett's "I Hate Myself for Loving You." Jett will be in Green Bay on Sept. 13 to sing the original herself during a home opener weekend concert at Burkel's One Block Over in Ashwaubenon.

— kmeinert@pressgazettemedia.com and follow her on Twitter @KendraMeinert.