IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
NBC announcer Chris Simms is apologizing for his comments about Oregon QB Dante Moore.
On Saturday, Moore was knocked out cold and taken out on a stretcher after receiving a late hit in Oregon’s game against USC.
Dante Moore laid down lifeless after a BIG hit 😳 pic.twitter.com/Cs2hB5e7HR
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) September 27, 2026
At halftime, Simms blamed Moore for sliding late on the play.
“You’ve got to also have a little soft spot in your heart for defenders right now. You’ve got to think about, Dante Moore’s 6-foot-3, 220 pounds. He’s running at you. The defender Stephens is bracing himself getting ready to get low to make the tackle, so yes, you the defender have to know in this day and age that you’ve got to be careful with the quarterback. But I would also say, Dante Moore I think slid very late, and put the defender in a kind of no-win situation.”
On Sunday, Simms apologized for his comment after fans ripped him to shreds.
“Hello everyone, Chris Simms, NBC Sports here, and I’d like to take a moment to apologize to everyone for the way I handled the halftime last night between the Oregon Ducks and the USC Trojans. I clearly did not show enough sympathy for the situation, just diving right into football stuff, and I am sorry for that. I love college football. I want to apologize to all college football fans out there, especially the Oregon Duck fans. I got great respect for the Oregon Ducks and Dante Moore.”
“If anyone’s seen anything I’ve said, is one of my favorite players in all of college football. I got great respect for Dan Lanning and what he does for that Oregon Duck football organization. I mishandled it and I was wrong and I’m sorry for that. I do have tremendous sympathy for the situation. As a guy who almost died on the field from a hard hit 20 years ago, I understand the game, how brutal it can be, and how we have to protect each other on the football field.
“So I am really sorry for that. Again, quick recovery to Dante Moore. All the respect for the Oregon Ducks, very great win for you guys last night on the road. And again, I’m sorry for the way I handled the halftime situation.”
On my comments during halftime of Oregon-USC last night. pic.twitter.com/zKQMlxniZk
— Chris Simms (@CSimmsQB) September 27, 2026