NFL Fans Call Out ESPN Over Draft Trend Of Exploiting Players’ Traumatic Experiences

© Cris Tiller/Imagn

The 2025 NFL Draft begins with the first round on ESPN on Thursday night. As part of the network’s coverage, you’ll be sure to hear about plenty of “inspirational” stories about players who get selected. But sometimes, the network has a habit of going overboard and airing out every bit of a player’s past trauma or dirty laundry in hopes of generating a story.

Now, NFL fans are calling out the network as it yet again prepares for its annual draft coverage. Ian Hartitz, who rose to fame as a fantasy football guru alongside Matt Berry, poked fun at the network for its controversial coverage tactics. And in response, many fans let him know how much they’re turned off by the network’s trend of exploiting players’ trauma.

Can’t wait until NFL draft night when ESPN tells me the single most crushing personal tragedy to ever happen to every prospect

— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) April 22, 2025

Fans Slam ESPN For Trend Of Exposing Players’ Traumatic Experiences At NFL Draft

“Sometimes I completely forget that ESPN did this for EVERY prospect during the COVID draft,” one fan tweeted. He then role-played a segment where a player’s grandparent died after being hit by a bus.

Perhaps the most controversial example of this was at the 2020 NFL Draft. ESPN producers decided that the entire world needed to know about Tee Higgins’ mother, Camilla, battling drug addiction for 16 years.

“Is it a requirement ESPN has to hit you with a horribly depressing tidbit for every player drafted,” fans asked.

“Player: ‘This is the happiest moment of my life!’ ESPN: ‘Great! Now tell us about your most traumatic experience,’” one fan mocked.

This year, ESPN is already leaning on the story of Travis Hunter’s father. Travis Hunter Sr. received a court order allowing him to attend the draft amid legal troubles.

Ultimately, teaching fans about players’ lives off the field is important. And many players do point to traumatic moments as inspiration for their success. But it doesn’t need to be the centerpiece of your coverage. And it sure seems like ESPN gets some sort of kick out of airing out players’ dirty laundry.