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NFL analyst Ryan Clark is under fire after a heated exchange with colleague Peter Schrager during a live ESPN broadcast, with viewers blasting his comments as condescending and labeling him the “male Black Joy Behar.” The tense moment unfolded as Clark interrupted Schrager during a panel discussion about CeeDee Lamb’s performance, snapping, “That’s the non-player in you.” Schrager immediately pushed back, “Don’t belittle me like that. I can come and say, as three ex-players are saying one thing, and give an alternative perspective.” But Clark doubled down instead of backing off, “Peter, what I need for you to do is not get mad and let me finish.”
The exchange left the set tense, with fans quickly flooding social media to react. Many viewers felt Clark crossed a line, accusing him of being dismissive and arrogant toward his colleague. One viral comment read, “Ryan Clark is the male Black Joy Behar. I used to like him — he needs to go.”
Others were even harsher. One user asked, “How is he still on TV? I’ll never understand,” as another bluntly stated, “Ryan Clark is a racist a–hole.” A third asked, “When will this racist clown get fired?”
Ryan Clark Issues Apology
After the backlash, Clark publicly addressed the situation, slipping in an apology while live-tweeting about the Chargers vs. Chiefs game. “Today, I had an interaction with my colleague [Peter Schrager] both on and off the air that I regret. I have apologized to Peter and taken accountability with ESPN leadership. I value working with Peter and look forward to this season. My focus will remain on professionalism, teamwork, and being a better teammate moving forward.” The network has not issued an official statement.
Not The First Time Clark Made Headlines This Week
This isn’t the only time Ryan Clark has stirred controversy in recent days. Earlier in the week, the analyst sparked outrage after sensationally claiming that legendary quarterback Tom Brady is not a generational talent. Appearing on a panel with Stephen A. Smith and Dan Orlovsky, Clark stunned his co-stars during a debate about what qualifies as a “generational talent,” with the discussion focused on Texas quarterback Arch Manning.
Clark shocked the table with his hot take, “I think John Elway was a generational talent. I think Patrick Mahomes is a generational talent. I don’t think Tom Brady, I don’t think Drew Brees, I don’t think Peyton Manning are generational talents. I think Andrew Luck ended up being a generational talent, I don’t think there’s a ton of them out there.”
The comment left his colleagues speechless and sent fans into an uproar online, with many calling it one of the worst takes in sports commentary history.
