Analyst's effort to bait Chiefs DT into bashing Zach Wilson backfires

Rodney Harrison Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Rodney Harrison’s effort to bait Chiefs DT into bashing Zach Wilson backfires

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 10/2/23

Former All-Pro safety Rodney Harrison had a reputation for rubbing people the wrong way during his 15-year NFL career. Not much has changed now that he’s an NFL analyst for NBC Sports.

Harrison continues to ruffle some feathers with remarks like the ones he made Sunday night following the Kansas City Chiefs' 23-20 win over the New York Jets on “Sunday Night Football.”

Harrison tried to bait Chiefs star defensive tackle Chris Jones into trashing Jets quarterback Zach Wilson by calling him “garbage” and saying the Chiefs defense should have torn him apart.

“We knew it was going to be a battle,” Jones said. “He’s continuing to get better week in and week out. He’s continuing to lead week in and week out. … Zach Wilson is special, man. You’ve just got to give the guy time.”

Video of the incident is below.

It’s rare the player being interviewed after the game has more journalistic integrity than the professional conducting the interview

I appreciate Chris Jones for not taking the bait here

Please be better Rodney pic.twitter.com/OzBizIc3TR
— Jared Smith (@jaredleesmith) October 2, 2023

Harrison continued to push back, stating Wilson had a special night but wasn’t a special player while colleagues Jac Collinsworth and Tony Dungy sat in the awkwardness as Jones refused to pick up what Harrison was putting down.

Jones was even complementary of Wilson while speaking to reporters in the locker room after the game.

Chris Jones on Zach Wilson’s performance:
“All they can do is support him full heartedly and go out there and fight for him like tonight. They had an opportunity and they continue to believe and build off of that. They can be special… people forget he is the #2 overall pick”
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) October 2, 2023

Harrison has received plenty of backlash on social media since Sunday night, with many stating his overly harsh criticism of Wilson felt personal and not befitting of an analyst for a major broadcasting partner of the NFL.

There may be something to those claims. During NBC’s pregame show, Harrison was also talking smack about Wilson, saying it was concerning that the third-year QB was missing wide-open throws in 7-on-7 warmup drills, which several reports have disputed.

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