S-F Radio: NFL 49ers Suspend Tim Ryan Over 'Dark' Comments

Tim Ryan

The NFL 49ers have suspended color commentator Tim Ryan for controversial comments made about Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson earlier this week on KNBR’s Murph & Mac Show.

“He’s really good at that fake, Lamar Jackson, but when you consider his dark skin color with a dark football with a dark uniform, you could not see that thing,” Ryan said on air. “I mean you literally could not see when he was in and out of the mesh point and if you’re a half step slow on him in terms of your vision forget about it, he’s out of the gate.” Ryan has been suspended for the upcoming game on Sunday vs. the Saints.

“We are disappointed in Tim Ryan’s comments earlier this week, and have suspended him for the upcoming game,” The 49ers said in a statement. “We hold Tim to a high standard as a representative of our organization and he must be more thoughtful with his words. Tim has expressed remorse in a public statement and has also done so with us privately. We know Tim as a man of high integrity and are confident he will grow and learn from this experience.

Snippet of Tim Ryan’s comments RE: Lamar Jackson’s “dark skin with a dark football with a dark uniform... you could not see that thing” via KNBR. He has since been suspended by the team pic.twitter.com/vpRI3veoXK

— 49ersHive (@49ersHive) December 5, 2019

“We have reached out to the Baltimore Ravens organization to extend our apologies and assure them the matter is not being taken lightly.”

“I regret my choice of words in trying to describe the conditions of the game,” Ryan said in a statement. “Lamar Jackson is an MVP-caliber player and I respect him greatly. I want to sincerely apologize to him and anyone else I offended.”

The Ravens won 20-17 last Sunday in Baltimore, with Jackson rushing for 101 yards, his fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season.

Ryan will not broadcast the 49ers' game this coming Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.