Fox Sports drew criticism from NFL fans on Sunday after a graphic error appeared during the broadcast of the Buccaneers-Bengals game. The mistake occurred early in the game when the broadcast intended to acknowledge Cincinnati's offensive coordinator, Dan Pitcher, who was entering his third season in the role.
Instead of displaying Pitcher's name, the graphic read "Firstname Lastname," an apparent oversight by the production team. Adding to the awkwardness, the sideline camera was focused on defensive coordinator Al Golden at the time the graphic was shown.
Social media users quickly shared screenshots of the error, with many expressing their disapproval. Comments ranged from inquiries about who might be fired to sarcastic remarks about "Firstname Lastname" leading the team. One user described the incident as "amateur hour."
Despite the broadcast gaffe, the on-field action saw the Bengals secure a 33-27 victory over the Buccaneers. Quarterback Joe Burrow completed 25 of 35 passes for 216 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in the game.
The Bengals are scheduled to play the Houston Texans in Week 2, with that game broadcast on CBS. It remains to be seen if the network will correctly identify the team's coordinators.