Cris Collinsworth spent eight seasons playing wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals, but some fans of the team say they would not know it from his broadcasts. The NBC analyst has drawn criticism from viewers who believe he regularly praises Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Collinsworth has pushed back on the idea that his admiration for Mahomes means he is against Cincinnati.
Collinsworth acknowledged that viewers can become attached to successful players and teams, making criticism harder to hear. But he said his role as a broadcaster is to assess what happens on the field, including mistakes.
“When they’re this good, you fall in love with these guys,” Collinsworth said. “You feel like you’ve been on the journey with them, and you don’t want to criticize. But at the same time, people in Pittsburgh have the same emotions about their team, and around the country. I’ve got a job to try and keep it down the middle, and part of the job is pointing out mistakes.”
He also recognized why his comments may draw a stronger reaction when they involve Cincinnati. The Bengals are his former team, and he lives in the city. As he explained, that connection can make an impartial assessment uncomfortable for some fans.
### Collinsworth has praised Cincinnati’s offense
For Bengals supporters who think Collinsworth is biased against his old team, his recent comments about Cincinnati’s offense offer another side of the picture. The Bengals entered the Steelers matchup with a 6-2 record and a four-game winning streak. A victory would give them sole possession of first place in the AFC North.
Collinsworth has spoken highly of quarterback Joe Burrow and the Bengals’ passing game ahead of the contest. He said Burrow consistently recognizes when to throw and makes the most of opportunities, which gives a coach room to call deep passes.
“He seems to throw it every time it’s the absolutely correct thing to do,” Collinsworth said. He added that tight end Mike Gesicki gives Cincinnati a significant threat over the middle, helping the team attack that part of the field effectively.
Collinsworth continued his praise on the Pro Football Focus Show, where he discussed the matchup with his son, Jac. He described Cincinnati’s offensive production as difficult to improve upon and said the team had been throwing the ball at an exceptional pace.
Those comments, however, have not ended the debate among fans. Much of the criticism centers on Collinsworth’s well-known admiration for Mahomes. Some viewers find his praise of the Chiefs quarterback excessive, particularly because Kansas City has been a major obstacle for Cincinnati in the AFC.
The teams have developed a postseason rivalry in recent years. They faced one another in consecutive AFC Championship Games in 2022 and 2023, splitting those matchups. With both clubs again competing for strong positions in the AFC playoff race, some Bengals fans may be especially sensitive to hearing a former Cincinnati player speak glowingly about Kansas City’s star quarterback.
### A joke about Collinsworth’s Mahomes praise
The discussion even became part of an NBC Sports promotion. Before Kansas City played the Indianapolis Colts on “Sunday Night Football” in September, comedian Nikki Glaser joked that Collinsworth had a “boy crush” on Mahomes.
Collinsworth took the teasing in good humor. He recalled that Glaser, who had also taken aim at Tom Brady during a roast, was now joking about his affection for the Chiefs quarterback. He said he had considered telling Mahomes that he might criticize him during a broadcast simply to prove he could.
“I almost told Patrick when we had our meeting, ‘Hey man, one of these games, I’m just going to rip you for no apparent reason, just so I can,’” Collinsworth said. He added that Mahomes would likely take the joke in stride.
The comments capture the tension between Collinsworth’s personal appreciation for great play and his responsibility to cover games fairly. His praise for Mahomes is clear, but so is his recent recognition of what Burrow and the Bengals’ offense have accomplished.
Fans may continue to debate which teams Collinsworth favors. He has said that keeping his commentary balanced—and pointing out mistakes when they happen—is part of the job, even when the team involved is the one he once played for.
