NFL fans are up in arms over recent comments made by longtime ESPN host Elle Duncan, with many calling for her to be fired. The backlash follows Duncan’s controversial remarks about New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones after he made a heartfelt statement thanking the franchise for the opportunity, following his release from the team.
Duncan, 41, has been venturing more into opinion-based content lately, a move that has seen its fair share of hits and misses.
This week, however, she appears to have missed the mark entirely. After Jones delivered a classy post-practice speech in which he expressed gratitude to the Giants despite his disappointing stint with the team, Duncan took the opportunity to roast him, and many fans felt her comments were both unwarranted and cruel.
“I’m sorry, you have to write this down? Didn’t you go to Duke?” Duncan said, mocking the quarterback’s prepared remarks. She then went on to suggest that Jones had the statement written in his notes app since 2020, implying that he always anticipated being cut.
Duncan didn’t stop there. She continued her rant by sarcastically suggesting an alternative version of Jones’ farewell message: “In all seriousness, DJ, I could have saved you like 90 seconds. A rewrite: ‘I’m sorry you paid me $108 million for one playoff win. And I look forward to reviving my career as Brock Purdy’s backup. The end.'”
The segment was intended to be humorous, but for many NFL fans, it crossed the line. Instead of landing a clever joke, Duncan’s comments came off as mean-spirited and dismissive of Jones’ genuine effort to show gratitude in a difficult moment. The backlash was swift, with many fans taking to social media to voice their disapproval and demand consequences for Duncan’s actions.
“ESPN needs to FIRE HER NOW!” one fan wrote, expressing the anger shared by many who found her comments to be needlessly harsh.
Another fan added, “DJ found a way to leave a poor showing with humility & class. I hope he goes on to find success with another team. Elle Duncan will continue to be the brazenly bad ‘talent’ who hopes to elevate herself at the expense of another.”
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The criticism wasn’t just about Duncan’s remarks being cruel—it also touched on her delivery and comedic style. “Elle Duncan’s segment ‘concept’ is fine, the problem is she’s not funny, has no charisma, and isn’t entertaining.
Her delivery stunk and she went too low on a low-hanging fruit in Daniel Jones. Giants. Jones. Duncan. They all stink,” commented another fan, pointing out that even if Duncan’s intention was humor, the execution was lacking.
Despite the uproar, Duncan doesn’t appear to be backing down.
Over the weekend, she took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to respond to her critics with a sarcastic post of her own. “It started flurrying this morning after a surprising amount of snow on my drive yesterday. I guess you could say I can’t seem to escape all these snowflakes..” she wrote, clearly alluding to the criticism she was receiving and dismissing it as overreaction.
As the controversy continues to simmer, ESPN appears to be standing by Duncan. Sources suggest that she is expected to return to the air next week, potentially ready with more hot takes. It remains to be seen whether the network will address the incident directly, but for now, it seems they are not planning to remove Duncan from her position.
The incident has sparked a broader conversation about the role of sports commentators and the line between humor and insensitivity.
For many fans, Duncan’s comments served as a reminder of the importance of empathy, especially when athletes are in vulnerable situations. Daniel Jones, who has faced significant challenges during his time with the Giants, chose to leave with dignity and gratitude, despite the setbacks. For fans, that showed character—something they feel was missing from Duncan’s segment.
As Jones moves forward in his career, it’s likely that he will find support from fans who appreciate his humility and resilience.
Meanwhile, Duncan’s future on ESPN remains under scrutiny, with many hoping that she will take the criticism to heart and adjust her approach in the future.
For now, it appears the fallout from her remarks is far from over, and the conversation surrounding the incident is likely to continue in the days ahead.
