ESPN analyst Mike Greenberg issued an on-air apology Friday night after incorrectly telling viewers during the 2026 NFL Draft that Cleveland Browns second-round pick Denzel Boston was the son of former NFL wide receiver David Boston.
The mistake occurred moments after the Browns selected Boston, a wide receiver from Washington, with the 39th overall pick in the second round. As cameras showed Boston celebrating with his family, Greenberg said: “You remember his dad, David Boston, first-round pick out of Ohio State in 1999.”
"You remember his dad, David Boston, first-round pick out of Ohio State in 1999." – ESPN's Mike Greenberg on Browns pick, WR Denzel Boston.
Denzel Boston is not David Boston's son, and they're not even related. 🏈📺🎙️#NFL #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/UbZxHiOsVU
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 24, 2026
Denzel Boston and David Boston are not related. Denzel’s father is Chris Boston.
Greenberg addressed the error about two hours later, as the Browns were on the clock again around the 74th overall selection (the team later traded out of the spot).
“I was waiting for them to come around again so that I could make an apology to Denzel Boston, who earlier tonight I misidentified as being the son of former NFL wide receiver David Boston,” Greenberg said. “It was a mistake in my research. It was a terrible one, and I apologize to them both. They are not related to each other. And so I apologize to both David and Denzel Boston, and congratulations to Denzel for being drafted in the second round tonight by the Cleveland Browns. It is my mistake, and I apologize for it.”
Mike Greenberg apologizes for saying that Denzel Boston is the son of David Boston. https://t.co/mH3iKtTAK2 pic.twitter.com/TJBCfeOACb
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 25, 2026
Greenberg, a longtime ESPN host who appears regularly on “Get Up,” was widely praised online for quickly owning the error and correcting the record during the live broadcast. Some social media users, however, questioned how the mistake made it to air and criticized his overall performance during draft coverage.
The gaffe drew immediate attention on X, with viewers posting clips and noting that Denzel’s father was clearly visible on screen beside him. David Boston was a first-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals in 1999 and played seven seasons in the NFL.
Night one of the 2026 NFL Draft in Detroit drew a record 320,000 fans in attendance, with millions more watching on television. The Browns used their second-round choice on Boston after trading up in the draft order.
