Cris Collinsworth makes NBC viewers want to mute broadcast as Jahan Dotson verdict backfires
Jahan Dotson was labeled an "excellent player" by Cris Collinsworth on Thursday, but his Pro Football Focus site listed him as the 109th best wide receiver heading into Week 1
NFL fans have already mocked NBC sportscaster Cris Collinsworth after he called Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jahan Dotson an "excellent player" during Thursday's season opener.
The 2025 NFL season began on Thursday night when the Eagles hosted the Dallas Cowboys, and Jalen Carter was ejected in just six seconds for spitting at Dak Prescott. Carter's reaction stemmed from an injury to Eagles fullback Ben VanSumeren during the kickoff, and he was later carted off.
As the game finally started to flow, Eagles receiver Dotson made a stunning play and hauled in a 51-yard pass from quarterback Jalen Hurts. Collinsworth called him an "excellent player" on the broadcast, despite his company, Pro Football Focus, listing Dotson as the 126th worst receiver in the NFL. It comes as Kelce was officially banned from YouTube's first-ever NFL game in Brazil for a staggering reason.
Collinsworth is the majority owner and CEO of Pro Football Focus, which provides advanced analytics and player evaluations for both professional and college football. Heading into Week 1, PFF listed Dotson as the 109th-best receiver.
"Cris Collinsworth just called Jahan Dotson, in the year of 2025, an 'excellent player,'" one fan wrote on X. "Cris Collinsworth is gonna make my ears bleed," another added.
"Is it just me, or does Cris Collinsworth just make you want to turn down the sound on your television?" One fan asked. "Why is Cris Collinsworth on my TV telling me Jahan Dotson is an excellent player?" Another said.
Dotson, 25, is still a young talent. The Penn State receiver was the ninth overall pick back in 2022. The Washington Commanders selected him, and he scored seven touchdowns in his rookie season.
His numbers dropped during the 2023 season despite playing more games, and the Commanders traded Dotson and a fifth-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles. In return, Washington received a conditional third-round pick and two seventh-round picks in the 2025 NFL draft.
Dotson failed to score a touchdown during his first regular season with the Eagles, but did find the endzone during the playoffs. He earned a Super Bowl ring after the Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in New Orleans. While the jury is out on Dotson, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni rates him highly.
Collinsworth then made another blunder on commentary. The game was suspended in the third quarter due to a weather warning in Philadelphia, and lightning forced fans to take shelter.
As the NBC broadcast explained the delay and clarified that all players would need to conduct a warm-up before play resumed, Collinsworth confused fans again. "The hardest thing to do in football is to get warmed up," Collinsworth said.
While Collinsworth divides opinion, he is a mainstay on the NBC broadcast. The 'Sunday Night Football' commentator recently signed a four-year contract extension with NBC Sports, keeping him as their lead NFL analyst through the 2029-30 season.
NBC Sports will broadcast two Super Bowls during that time, and Collinsworth will analyze the finale this season. He is estimated to earn $12.5 million annually.
It comes as Dak Prescott responds to footage of Cowboys quarterback spitting first.