NFL color commentator Cris Collinsworth caused controversy during NBC’s broadcast of the Steelers vs. Ravens game for praising the football knowledge of women he met in Pittsburgh.
“Everybody’s a fan,” Collinsworth said of people he met around Pittsburgh. “In particular, the ladies that I met. They have really specific questions about the game. I’m like, ‘Wow,’ just blown away by how strong the fans are here in this town.”
Chris Collinsworth issued an apology for this.
So…..did this offend you?— Colin Dunlap (@colin_dunlap) December 3, 2020
Some observers took offense to Collinsworth’s anecdote, believing it to be a slight at female football fans.
“Cris Collinsworth’s comments about being surprised women can be educated Steelers fans are obviously ridiculous, but sadly not surprising,” Pittsburgh radio host Mike J. Asti said on Twitter. “It will now be interesting if he faces any punishment. He’s been a voice of the NFL for a very long time.”
Cris Collinsworth’s comments about being surprised women can be educated Steelers fans are obviously ridiculous, but sadly not surprising. It will now be interesting if he faces any punishment. He’s been a voice of the NFL for a very long time.
— Mike J. Asti (@MikeAsti11) December 2, 2020
“So far this year, Cris Collinsworth has made fun of wearing masks and seems stunned that ‘ladies’ know about football,” said sports columnist Ann Killion. “Maybe @NFL could fill him in about their viewership demographics. He seems to be a newbie to this game.”
So far this year, Cris Collinsworth has made fun of wearing masks and seems stunned that “ladies” know about football. Maybe @NFL could fill him in about their viewership demographics. He seems to be a newbie to this game.
— Ann Killion (@annkillion) December 2, 2020
The backlash caused Collinsworth to apologize in a statement posted on Twitter.
“Today on our broadcast I made reference to a couple of women I met in Pittsburgh who so impressed me with their football knowledge that I wanted to tell their story on the air,” Collinsworth wrote. “I know the way I phrased it insulted many. I’m so sorry. What I intended as a compliment to the fans of Pittsburgh, became an insult.”
“I’m sick about insulting any fan, but especially female fans and journalists,” Collinsworth continued. “I know first hand how much harder they have to work than any of us in this industry. I was wrong and deeply apologize.”
— Cris Collinsworth (@CollinsworthPFF) December 3, 2020
The Steelers defeated the Ravens 19-14 Wednesday night in the game that was delayed three times due to 22 Ravens players either testing positive for COVID-19 or being identified as having had high-risk close contact. The Steelers improved to 11-0 while the Ravens fell to 6-5 on the season.
