Broncos CB Patrick Surtain Says Embattled Teammate 'Racially Profiled' by Refs

Broncos CB Patrick Surtain Defends Teammate Riley Moss Over Penalty Calls

Denver Broncos cornerback and reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II stood up for his teammate, fellow starting cornerback Riley Moss. Surtain’s comments drew attention to the scrutiny Moss has faced on the field that some attribute to his race.

Moss made history when he started the 2024 season opener, becoming the first white starting cornerback in the NFL in 22 years. Since then, he has been recognized as one of the league’s most promising defenders. Much of the passing traffic tends to go Moss’s way, largely because opposing teams prefer to avoid Surtain, one of the most dominant coverage players in the NFL.

During the 2024 season, Surtain was so effective that statistics suggested throwing the ball away was safer than targeting him. Despite this, Moss has often been flagged for defensive pass interference.

“I ain’t gonna lie, I think they racial profiling my dog,” Surtain said on the Closed on Sundays With Pat and Terrion podcast. “They calling all these flags on my boy … I ain’t gonna lie, these flags are egregious. He had a rep against CeeDee Lamb where he was in perfect position and still got a flag.”

Surtain, who is currently sidelined for three weeks with a pectoral strain, added the remark partly in jest, but many fans and analysts took note of the underlying message regarding how penalties are called against Moss.

Author Summary

Surtain’s defense of Moss highlights growing concerns about potential racial bias in NFL officiating and how it may affect even high-performing players.

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Heavy Sports Heavy Sports — 2025-11-01

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