Broncos CB Patrick Surtain Defends Teammate Riley Moss Over Racial Profiling Claims
Denver Broncos cornerback and reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Patrick Surtain II, spoke out in support of his fellow starting cornerback Riley Moss. Regardless of Moss's performance, race has become part of the conversation because Moss is white. When he started the 2024 season opener, Moss became the NFL’s first white starting cornerback in 22 years.
Since then, Moss has emerged as one of the NFL’s best rising cornerbacks, often facing a high volume of passes. This heavy attention is not due to his skill level but because Surtain is regarded as nearly impenetrable. Teams rarely attempt passes in Surtain's direction; in fact, in 2024, the chance of completing a pass against him was so low it was statistically wiser to throw the ball away.
Surtain is also frequently penalized for defensive pass interference. Commenting on this, he joked that the frequent flags on Moss might be linked to race. Speaking on the Closed on Sundays With Pat and Terrion podcast alongside Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold, Surtain said:
“I ain’t gonna lie, I think they racial profiling my dog. They calling all these flags on my boy … I ain’t gonna lie, these flags is egregious. He had a rep against CeeDee Lamb where he played the ball, where he was in perfect position, and he still got a flag.”
Surtain will miss the next three weeks due to a pec strain, but his defense of Moss highlights ongoing issues about race and officiating in the NFL.
Key Points
- Riley Moss became the NFL’s first white starting cornerback in 22 years in 2024.
- Moss has become a top up-and-coming cornerback despite facing many passes.
- Teams avoid throwing at Patrick Surtain due to his exceptional defense.
- Surtain joked about racial profiling affecting the number of penalties called on Moss.
- The discussion reflects complex issues of race and officiating in football.
Summary: Patrick Surtain II defends teammate Riley Moss, highlighting how race influences discussions about Moss’s penalties and overall treatment in the NFL, amid Moss’s rise as a leading cornerback.
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