NBC SNF Cris Collinsworth attracted criticism online after labeling the Atlanta Falcons defense as full of "no name" players during their contest against the Baltimore Ravens
Cris Collinsworth
Cris Collinsworth on the call for Ravens-Falcons in Atlanta(Image: Getty Images)
View 3 Images
The Atlanta Falcons entered Week 5 of the NFL season with one of the most unheralded defenses in the NFL, even with top pass rushers James Pearce Jr and Jalon Walker.
Falcons defensive tackle Cameron Thomas and edge rusher Cameron Thomas made a play to end a Lamar Jackson-less Baltimore Ravens drive early in the second quarter of the two teams' Sunday Night Football showdown.
After broadcaster Mike Tirico called the play, color commentator Cris Collinsworth hopped in and shared how 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."
A slew of viewers online took Collinsworth's comment — not the only one he made of that nature about the Falcons — with longtime NFL defensive lineman Breiden Fehoko calling the NBC man "disrespectful."
READ MORE: NFL uses barely-known new rule to eject 49ers star after refs missed headbutt
READ MORE: NFL referee suddenly halts play with emergency timeout to fix wardrobe malfunction
"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," Fehoko tweeted.
Other fans agreed. "Collinsworth constantly saying 'these no-name guys' about Falcons defenders over and over is disrespectful as f----. Like it's YOUR JOB TO KNOW THEM," another said.
Brandon Dorlus
Falcons defensive end Brandon Dorlus makes a play on Justice Hill(Image: Getty Images)
View 3 Images
A different fan listed key players on the Atlanta defense. "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???" they wrote.
By all accounts, the Falcons' defense isn't full of household names or top draft picks. Instead, a series of young gunners are making their marks under veteran defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbreich.
Maason Smith, 23, was a 2024 second-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars with an 81.0 PFF pass-rush grade.
Jeff Ulbrich
Jeff Ulbrich leads the Falcons defense(Image: Getty Images)
View 3 Images
Garvon Dexton Sr., 25, was a 2023 second-round pick by the Chicago Bears coming off a 6.0 sack season with a strong 79.5 PFF grade (ninth amongst all NFL interior linemen).
Cameron Thomas, 26, was a 2022 third-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals with a strong 83.9 PFF grade (eighth out of 112 NFL edge defenders).
Brandon Dorlus, 25, was a 2024 fourth-round pick coming off an 8.5 sack season who boasts a 73.9 PFF grade (19th of 131 defensive ends).
"I know what Collinsworth means by saying there are nameless, baseless players on the Falcons defense, but Brandon Dorlus is definitely not one of them if you watched him play last season and so far this season," one fan tweeted.
Atlanta's biggest defensive stars — cornerback AJ Terrell (IR-groin), DE James Pearce Jr (suspended), DE Jalon Walker (torn AC) — are out, though safety Jesse Bates remains in the lineup.