ESPN sideline reporter apologizes after TV debut mocked online

Kelsey Driscoll
Updated ·2 min read

Monday night's matchup between the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers quickly became less about the football and more about the commentators.

The game was already set to make history from on the field and the broadcast. Two African American coaches were making their debuts on the same night, while the telecast featured Beth Mowins, the first woman to call a regular season NFL game in 30 years, and infamous coach Rex Ryan in the booth.

But it was young sideline reporter Sergio Dipp who captured the audience's attention.

Dipp, who has been with ESPN Deportes since 2013, made a memorable first impression in his Monday Night Football debut, though not for the reasons he had hoped.

Dipp's 30 seconds of fame were immediately ridiculed online, with many mocking how he seemingly stumbled over his words while discussing Broncos head coach Vance Joseph's first game with the team.

After the game, Dipp initially responded with a joke about his newfound fame, but the subject quickly turned more serious.

In a video posted to his Twitter account Tuesday morning, 29-year-old Dipp addressed the controversy behind his analysis of Coach Joseph. Dipp, who was born in Mexico, said he wanted to "show some respect" to the two minority head coaches as a minority himself.

He also noted the importance of the game being played on September 11 and made clear that he "meant no disrespect" on "the most heartfelt day in this great country."

You can hear more of Dipp's comments in the video below:

It's unclear if Dipp will have another opportunity as a sideline reporter for the NFL.