{"id":763535,"date":"2026-02-20T01:45:16","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T01:45:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/763535\/"},"modified":"2026-02-20T01:45:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T01:45:16","slug":"willie-colon-shuts-down-jason-mcintryes-ridiculous-steelers-question-nonsense","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/763535\/","title":{"rendered":"Willie Colon Shuts Down Jason McIntrye’s Ridiculous Steelers Question: ‘Nonsense’"},"content":{"rendered":"

FOX Sports\u2019 Jason McIntyre has been taken plenty of L\u2019s lately. One day after stating Super Bowl-winning WR Mike Evans has never been close to the Lombardi Trophy,<\/a> he followed up with the worst question and implication yet over the spat between former Pittsburgh Steelers players. Speaking with Willie Colon Thursday, McIntyre wondered if a \u201cracial element\u201d was at play.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know if Big Ben started it. But I\u2019ll ask. Willie, do you think there\u2019s a racial element to this? Big Ben, Tomlin, Porter?\u201d McIntyre said on The Herd.<\/p>\n

With an earnestly befuddled look on his face, Colon rejected the notion.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, nonsense,\u201d the former Steelers offensive lineman said. \u201cI don\u2019t even know what that component would be. You would have to help me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jason McIntyre wonders if there is a racial element to Ben Roethlisberger criticizing Mike Tomlin<\/p>\n

Willie Colon: “No\u2026I don\u2019t even know what that component would be, you would have to help me” pic.twitter.com\/uyNWGwc78b<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

McIntrye attempted to defend his line of questioning by noting all the \u201cshots\u201d Ben Roethlisberger took at Mike Tomlin \u201cout the door.\u201d On his Footbahlin podcast, Roethlisberger offered criticism of Tomlin last season but was generally mild. He continually praised Tomlin\u2019s ability to coach but believed it was time for the Steelers and Tomlin to part ways<\/a>, a thought Roethlisberger was far from alone in.<\/p>\n

Floating the idea of Tomlin coaching at Penn State was awkward and perhaps ill-advised but it was also made off the cuff and, listening to the context, wasn\u2019t nearly as harsh as it read on paper.<\/p>\n

James Harrison and Ryan Clark offered similar and often more intense and pointed criticism<\/a>. In his response, Willie Colon made that point and McIntyre responded with a meek, \u201cThat\u2019s fair.\u201d<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no need to write a long defense of why Roethlisberger\u2019s critiques weren\u2019t racially motivated. Outside of a Facebook comments section, McIntyre is the only one to suggest or even think race had anything to do with what Roethlisberger said.<\/p>\n

Frankly, most in the national media probably aren\u2019t even aware of what Roethlisberger said. The framing of his comments is more sinister than his actual quotes were, and it\u2019s improperly framed the ensuing narrative.<\/p>\n

McIntyre has taken that to the worst degree and while he may not have levied a direct accusation of racism, even broaching the topic under the guise of \u201cI\u2019m just asking questions here\u201d is silly. Colon\u2019s response was firm and correct.<\/p>\n