In an unusual moment of cross-sport commentary, Denver Nuggets head coach David Adelman found himself at the center of controversy — not on the hardwood, but on the gridiron.
During Sunday’s Denver Broncos game at Empower Field, a brutal hit on the team’s starting quarterback left fans gasping and Coach Adelman, who was watching from a VIP suite, visibly shocked. The quarterback was slow to get up after a helmet-to-helmet collision that appeared to violate the NFL’s roughing-the-passer rules.
“No flag. Not even a review,” Adelman said in a post-Nuggets practice media scrum the next day. “That kind of hit? It almost knocked him out cold. If we’re talking about protecting players — no matter the sport — you can’t just ignore something like that.”
His comments, which quickly went viral on social media, sparked debates not only among NFL fans but also across sports communities, with many applauding Adelman for speaking out. Broncos fans, already frustrated with officiating this season, rallied behind the Nuggets coach, using hashtags like #ProtectTheQB and #RefsMissedItAgain.
The NFL has yet to release an official statement on the hit, but insiders report the league is reviewing the incident internally. Meanwhile, Adelman’s outspoken support has earned him unexpected praise from local football die-hards.
“I’m just a fan in the stands when it comes to football,” Adelman added. “But I know a dangerous play when I see one.”
With tensions rising around officiating in both the NBA and NFL, Adelman’s voice adds fuel to a growing conversation around player safety — and the accountability of officials across all sports.
