ESPN’s Ryan Clark sparks backlash after comparing Joe Flacco to Jesus Christ on live TV

Sports commentary is supposed to be bold, but ESPN analyst Ryan Clark may have taken things into divine territory. During Monday Night Countdown, Clark compared quarterback Joe Flacco’s NFL comeback to nothing less than the resurrection of Jesus Christ. His exact words? “Because this is the greatest resurrection since Jesus the Christ. Joe Flacco must have the faith of a mustard seed.” The comment instantly set social media on fire, with fans dropping memes, jokes, and criticism in equal measure. The take was wild, controversial, and viral all in the same breath.

ESPN’s Ryan Clark compares Joe Flacco to Jesus Christ, calls comeback “the greatest resurrection”

On ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown, Clark reacted to the Cleveland Browns naming Joe Flacco their Week 1 starter. In an attempt to highlight how unexpected Flacco’s return was, he drew a biblical comparison that shocked viewers. Clark said, “Joe Flacco must have the faith of a mustard seed. Because this is the greatest resurrection since Jesus the Christ.” The dramatic analogy instantly grabbed attention, not just for hyping Flacco but for bringing religion into football talk.

To be fair, Flacco’s journey back to starter status does feel surreal. The 39-year-old quarterback hadn’t started a Week 1 game since 2019 and spent years as a backup, bouncing between teams. Many thought his days as a starter were over, but injuries and opportunities brought him back into the spotlight with the Browns.

That underdog narrative is why Clark likely went overboard with the comparison. While likening him to Jesus Christ feels “extra,” Flacco’s return does mirror a kind of football rebirth that fans didn’t see coming.

Fans roast Ryan Clark’s Jesus comment and turn it into memes

Once Clark’s words hit TV, Twitter/X wasted no time reacting. Some fans joked, “Maybe he walks on water too and we just haven’t seen it “yet” while others dropped memes about parting the Red Sea faster than Flacco drops back to pass. The internet roasted him for pushing a sports comeback into biblical territory, though some defended it as just lighthearted TV banter. Either way, the phrase “greatest resurrection since Jesus Christ” is now permanently attached to Joe Flacco’s name whether he likes it or not.

Ryan Clark’s over-the-top analogy has turned a simple NFL storyline into a viral cultural moment. For Flacco, the comeback is already a career-defining surprise, but for ESPN, this clip shows how sports talk thrives on shock value. Fans may laugh, cringe, or meme it endlessly, but one thing is certain, Joe Flacco’s return has officially been branded as larger-than-life. And thanks to Ryan Clark, it will be remembered as the NFL’s “resurrection story.

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