![ESPN’s Rex Ryan Is Taking Heat For Calling Black NFL Player “Homeboy” On Live TV [VIDEO]](https://www.rawchili.com/nfl/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/3DfMYz_15PtN22Y00.jpeg)
ESPN analyst Rex Ryan is taking heat on social media after referring to Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado as a “homeboy” during Monday’s episode of ‘Get Up’.
Demercado made a costly mistake during the Cardinals’ loss to the previously winless Tennessee Titans on Sunday, helping his own team snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Arizona was up 21-6 with just under 13 minutes left in the fourth quarter when he took off on a clear run to the end zone from 72 yards, but dropped the ball in celebration before crossing the line. The ball rolled into the end zone and out of bounds, resulting in a fumble and touchback, wiping out what would have been one of the plays of the weekend.
Instead of going up 28-6, the Cardinals threw the Titans a lifeline that saw them score 16 unanswered points and lead to accusations game manipulation.
Mind you, this is just a week after Adonai Mitchell cost the Indianapolis Colts a win by celebrating before crossing the line and fumbling the football for a touchback.
Rex Ryan Criticized Over Curious Reference
Ryan discussed the play during ‘Get Up’ on Monday and referred to Demercado by the aforementioned name.
Check him out in the video below:
The reference triggered some pushback in the comments, though some users thought there was nothing offensive about a White analyst using the term to refer to a Black player.
“Rex Ryan IMO isn’t a competent analyst on ESPN Get Up show. All he does is demoralize & speaks very disrespectful about BLACK players in the NFL,” someone wrote.
“What are we doing @espn,” another asked.
“They just care about clicks and views,” someone claimed.
As if Demercado’s blunder wasn’t bizarre enough, the Titans capitalized on a fumble recovery in the end zone after a Cards interception, having scored a TD after the initial fumble.
Joey Slye won it with a late field goal, which put Tennessee in the wins column for the first time this season.
Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon was visibly irate on the sideline but later claimed it’s never about a single play.
The post ESPN’s Rex Ryan Is Taking Heat For Calling Black NFL Player “Homeboy” On Live TV [VIDEO] originally published on Total Pro Sports.