Broncos CB Patrick Surtain Defends Teammate Over Racial Profiling Claims
Denver Broncos cornerback and reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II spoke out in defense of fellow starting cornerback Riley Moss amid controversy. Despite Moss's strong performances, part of the conversation around him inevitably touches on race. This reflects the fact that Moss is white and, when he started the 2024 season opener, became the NFL's first white starting cornerback in 22 years.
Since then, Moss has emerged as one of the league's most promising young cornerbacks, facing many passes — not due to poor skill, but because Surtain, who is exceptional in coverage, deters opposing teams from throwing on his side. At one point in 2024, statistics showed it was more advantageous for quarterbacks to throw the ball away than attempt a pass against Surtain.
Surtain is often penalized for defensive pass interference, and he humorously suggested on the Closed on Sundays With Pat and Terrion podcast that some of the flags Moss receives might be influenced by his race.
“I ain’t gonna lie, I think they racial profiling my dog,” Surtain joked with Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold. “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.”
Summary
Patrick Surtain II defends Riley Moss, highlighting his strong play despite racial scrutiny and suggesting some penalties Moss faces may be unfairly influenced by race.