ESPN's Mike Greenberg found himself in hot water during Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft after a slip-up that had fans howling on social media. While covering the Cleveland Browns' selection of Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston, Greenberg confidently asserted that the young pass-catcher was the son of former NFL star David Boston. There's just one problem: they're not related.
The Browns, who had already added offensive tackle Spencer Fano and receiver KC Concepcion on Day 1, continued their aggressive roster overhaul by snagging the 6-foot-4 Boston in the second round. Boston put up solid numbers for the Huskies in 2025—62 catches, 881 yards, and 11 touchdowns—making him a logical target for Cleveland's offense. But as cameras showed Boston celebrating with his family, Greenberg tried to add some color commentary.
“There you are, Mel. That’s another player who you were waiting to hear his name called,” Greenberg said on air. “You remember his dad, David Boston, first-round pick out of Ohio State in 1999.”
The only issue? Denzel Boston and David Boston share a surname but not a family tree. David Boston, a former Ohio State standout and first-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 1999, is not the father of the Washington product. The mistake quickly went viral, with fans roasting Greenberg for what they saw as a lazy assumption.
“How Greenberg has a job is beyond me,” one fan wrote on social media. Another chimed in, “Greeny has zero business doing anything other than being a traffic cop on debate shows.” A third user sarcastically added, “You of course remember his dad, the city of Boston, the birthplace of America, home of Paul Revere and the fictional Johnny Tremain, the maimed silversmith apprentice.”
Greenberg, who has hosted ESPN's draft coverage six times, is no stranger to the spotlight. But this blunder has reignited criticism of his draft-day analysis. Some fans pointed out that he simply assumed two players with the same last name and position must be related. “Greeny just assuming because they’re both receivers with the last name Boston that they must be father and son,” one user noted.
This isn't the first draft-day gaffe to make headlines this year. Earlier in the week, Carson Beck's high school GPA leaked during the draft, and Dillon Thieneman's sister stole the show with a viral moment. But Greenberg's error stands out because it involved a basic fact-check failure on a major broadcast.
As the draft continues, all eyes will be on whether Greenberg issues an apology to the Boston family. For now, the internet isn't letting him forget it. And with the Browns' draft picks hinting at an all-in plan for Shedeur Sanders, Greenberg's misstep is just one more story in a chaotic draft weekend.
