Chris Simms Apologizes for Controversial Comments During Oregon-USC Game

For several hours on Saturday night, NBC’s Chris Simms became the target of criticism on social media. Sparks flew due to comments he made during halftime of the Oregon-USC game. He criticized Ducks quarterback Dante Moore, attributing fault to him for a severe hit that resulted in hospitalization.

Simms noted, “It was a Debbie Downer moment. You need some sympathy for defenders. Dante Moore, standing 6-3 and weighing 240 pounds, was coming at you. Defender Stephens was readying himself to tackle low.” He added, “Defenders today must be cautious with quarterbacks, yet Moore slid late, placing the defender in a no-win scenario.”

Following a torrent of criticism from fans within 24 hours, Simms issued an apology via social media on Sunday for his remarks regarding Moore’s injury.

“I want to apologize for my mishandling of last night’s halftime during the Oregon Ducks and USC Trojans game,” Simms declared. “I failed to show enough sympathy for the circumstances, diving straight into football analysis. I am sorry. I love college football.”

He expressed, “I apologize to all college football fans, particularly the Oregon Duck supporters. I highly respect the Oregon Ducks, and Dante Moore ranks among my favorite players in college football.”

Simms continued, “I respect Dan Lanning’s contributions to the Oregon Duck football organization. I mishandled the situation and was wrong. I am deeply sorry. As someone who nearly died on the field from a hard hit two decades ago, I understand the sport, its brutality, and the necessity of protecting each other on the field.”

Although some fans remain skeptical about Simms’s apology, attributing it to the backlash he faced, Simms recognized his comments were inappropriate and admitted his wrongdoing.