49ers suspend broadcaster for Lamar Jackson ‘dark skin’ comments
The 49ers reportedly suspended their radio color analyst who said Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is skilled at faking handoffs because of his “dark skin color.”
Commentator Tim Ryan’s comments were made during his weekly segment on KNBR’s “Murph and Mac” morning radio show, while discussing the 49ers’ 20-17 loss to the Ravens the previous day.
“He’s really good at that fake, Lamar Jackson, but when you consider his dark skin color with a dark football with a dark uniform, you could not see that thing,” said Ryan, who is white and was a linebacker for the Bears in the 1990s. “I mean you literally could not see when he was in and out of the mesh point.”
Ryan was referring to the Ravens’ zone-read offense, which consists of the mobile Jackson sometimes faking handoffs and running the ball himself.
Jackson is black and among the contenders to win the NFL MVP Award. He rushed for 101 yards in Sunday’s game, and threw for 105 yards and a touchdown on 14 of 23 passing.
The 49ers apologized to the Ravens, according to ESPN, and Ryan in a statement said he “regrets his choice of words in trying to describe the conditions of the game.”
Ryan, who officially was punished Wednesday, added: “Lamar Jackson is an MVP-caliber player and I respect him greatly. I want to sincerely apologize to him and anyone else I offended.”
Ryan will not broadcast the 49ers game this Sunday against the Saints.
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