NBC bringing ‘Football Night in America’ to Chicago for Bears’ season opener

When Bears fans turn on Channel 5 before the season opener Thursday against the Packers, they’ll be welcomed to the NFL’s 100th season by Betty White and Brett Favre.

Undoubtedly, each will conjure different emotions.

The two shot the segment a couple of weeks ago to open NBC’s pregame show, “Football Night in America.” White, 97, can joke that she’s about as old as the NFL. Favre can boast that he went 23-13 against the Bears.

But NBC has much more lined up for the hourlong show as it brings the entire ‘‘FNIA’’ cast to Chicago. The show will broadcast from Soldier Field and Grant Park, where the NFL will host a concert.

“The thinking of bringing the whole group to the venue is really to celebrate the day in football,” coordinating producer Rob Hyland said. “The spotlight is on Chicago, and what better way to start the season than to be on-site.

“Having our entire team on-site -allows us to be a part of the experience, and that begins early that morning with the -‘Today’ show, then the concert taking place at Grant Park, and we’re going to document all that on Thursday night.”

A crew of about 75 will work on ‘‘FNIA,’’ the most-watched sports studio show since it debuted in 2006. Another roughly 200 will handle the “Sunday Night Football” broadcast.

‘‘FNIA’’ host Mike Tirico will be with Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison on the main set on the sideline. Mike Florio and Chris Simms will join Liam McHugh on an adjacent auxiliary set. Kathryn Tappen will host from Grant Park.

Hyland said the show will have a Chicago flavor. “Super Fans” Rob Smigel and George Wendt have a segment, and the show will take a tongue-in-check look at the Double Doink, coined by “SNF” analyst Cris Collinsworth.

“There’s a couple of distinctly Chicago elements in the show we think will be a lot of fun,” Hyland said.

NBC Sports Chicago also on-site

NBCSCH will broadcast “SportsTalk Live” and its new “Primetime Preshow” from the NFL Experience in Grant Park starting at 5 p.m. Thursday. The new show will air before every Bears night game.