Longtime NFL announcer Cris Collinsworth is facing some backlash for a comment that fans have decided was “disrespectful” on Sunday Night Football this week.
The Atlanta Falcons hosted the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football this week. Baltimore, playing without Lamar Jackson, was able to get the win in overtime on Sunday evening. But the Falcons played well, especially up front at times.
Collinsworth was surprised.
Falcons defensive tackle Cameron Thomas and edge rusher Zach Harrison were playing well on Sunday evening. As Mike Tirico shouted them out, Collinsworth made a questionable comment. He said that Atlanta has “non-name guys up front. … [They’re] making plays and sacks in the background, and they’re keeping the Atlanta Falcons in it.”
© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
NFL fans, including a former player, found the comments made by Collinsworth to be “disrespectful,” with some saying he should apologize to the Falcons players he disrespected.
“Cris Collinsworth has a full breakdown of both rosters in front of him, every player, yet he keeps calling the Falcons DLine ‘no-name guys.’ Stop disrespecting man,” longtime NFL defensive lineman Breiden Fehoko tweeted on Sunday night.
Other NFL fans agreed.
“Collinsworth constantly saying ‘these no-name guys’ about Falcons defenders over and over is disrespectful as (expletive). Like it’s YOUR JOB TO KNOW THEM,” one fan added on X.
Another fan shared: “Did Collinsworth just casually say the Atlanta Falcons defense is made up of a bunch of nobodies? Like ik they don’t have Myles Garrett, but they still have some Dawgs on that roster. Gervon Dexter? Jessie Bates? Xavier Watts? ? ?”
Collinsworth likely didn’t mean it as disrespect, and more of a compliment, but it didn’t come across that way.
The longtime NFL announcer is used to criticism
Collinsworth has often been criticized for his broadcasting performances, but it’s usually for something different: too much love.
The longtime NFL announcer has constantly faced accusations of showing too much bias for players like Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. And that’s something that he won’t apologize for.
“Honestly, I don’t care if anyone thinks I like Patrick Mahomes, because I do. I do like the guy. He’s been one of the most phenomenal players we’ve seen in the league for a long, long time.” Collinsworth said to Kay Adams last year. “I think everybody went into that Super Bowl with the same exact thought. Which was essentially, the Eagles have better players when you take their roster as a whole, and Kansas City has Patrick Mahomes.”
Collinsworth will be back on the air next Sunday, as the Green Bay Packers take on the Dallas Cowboys in Week 6.
