( CNN ) -- Before the final whistle at Monday night 's game between the Indianapolis Colts and the New York Giants , trumpeter Chris Botti had already won . The Grammy-winning musician was on the field at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford , New Jersey , to perform the national anthem for November 3 's `` Monday Night Football . '' No vocals , as we 've become accustomed to -- just Botti and his instrument . What transpired was so affecting that it left viewers with chills and brought Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne to tears . `` I 'm just blessed to be out there , '' Wayne later told ESPN . His performance during Monday night 's game pushed Wayne to eighth place on the all-time receiving yards list , ahead of James Lofton . `` It 's an emotional game , man , and sometimes it comes out , '' Wayne continued . `` An old wise guy once told me you should n't hold back your tears . Tonight was a night with the tears . '' Botti , a native of Portland , Oregon , became devoted to playing the trumpet at 12 after hearing Miles Davis perform `` My Funny Valentine . '' Now 52 , Botti 's not only built a successful career as a trumpeter , he 's also worked with some of the music industry 's biggest names , from Frank Sinatra and Paul Simon to Joni Mitchell and Natalie Cole . His most recent release , `` Impressions , '' won the Grammy for best pop instrumental album in 2012 . After his showing at MetLife , many are also saying that Botti turned in one of the best performances of `` The Star-Spangled Banner '' ever heard . Perhaps , as one viewer suggested , even the best since Whitney Houston blew our minds at the 1991 Super Bowl . .
Chris Botti 's national anthem was breathtaking . Comment: Several viewers have called it one of the best national anthem performances .