ESPN NFL analyst Ryan Clark can be pretty polarizing at times. But a recent joke he made about Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco seems to have been over the line for some fans. During a recent segment on ESPN, Clark spoke about the Browns' recent decision to name Flacco the starter for the ...
ESPN NFL Analyst Taking Heat For Joke About Jesus' Resurrection originally appeared on The Spun.
ESPN NFL analyst Ryan Clark can be pretty polarizing at times. But a recent joke he made about Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco seems to have been over the line for some fans.
During a recent segment on ESPN, Clark spoke about the Browns' recent decision to name Flacco the starter for the 2025 NFL season. Clark started gushing about how Flacco has managed to continuously get work in the NFL despite having semi-retired several years ago. He then declared that Flacco's return to the NFL is "the greatest resurrection since Jesus Christ," which as you might imagine didn't sit well with some.
"I’m gonna tell you what, man," Clark said. "Joe Flacco must have the faith of a mustard seed, right? Because this is the greatest resurrection since Jesus the Christ. Like, at some point, Joe Flacco was thinking about getting into TV, right? Joe Flacco didn’t have a job. And then, now, you not only coming back and starting for the Cleveland Browns late in the 2023 season, but they came back around to you and you’re now the day one starter for a franchise that just two years ago was in the playoffs."
"Joe Flacco must have the faith of a mustard seed. Because this is the greatest resurrection since Jesus the Christ."
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 18, 2025
Ryan Clark reacts to Joe Flacco being named the Week 1 starter for the Cleveland Browns. pic.twitter.com/egSeH1HukS
The reaction has been pretty nasty
Fans were already pretty exhausted of Clark's hyperbolic analysis and were even less amused when he decided to compare an NFL quarterback to the legendary Christian figure.
So after seeing that quote on their social media feeds, fans quickly made it clear how much they absolutely despised Clark:
"Ryan Clark is literally the worst sports commentator of all time," one user said bluntly.
"I think im honestly fine with never seeing Ryan Clark again," wrote another.
"Ryan Clark is exactly why ESPN has been unwatchable for years. The dude is absolutely terrible," a third remarked.
"Ryan Clark says he's a Christian and says something like that. Seriously. Comparing a guy who was pretty much named the starter before the pre season ever started is hardly a surprise. Ryan Clark is a terrible Stephen A Smith Wanabe."
"Ryan Clark does not understand the parable of a mustard seed."
"Does this show have a contest every day for who can say the dumbest (expletive) possible. Think so."
Nothing new
Ryan Clark has made a habit out of saying something ridiculous and then making it something about himself or his own beliefs. Perhaps the biggest example was his recent beef with Robert Griffin III, which is an entirely different can of worms not worth opening today.
Suffice it to say, Clark's gift of gab may be wildly entertaining to the ESPN cast and crew, but it has a very different reaction from the audience they're trying to appeal to.
ESPN NFL Analyst Taking Heat For Joke About Jesus' Resurrection first appeared on The Spun on Aug 20, 2025
This story was originally reported by The Spun on Aug 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Football
