ESPN analyst Greg McElroy made an honest mistake during Thursday’s Sugar Bowl when he accidentally said the wrong player’s name. While calling the College Football Playoff game, McElroy wanted to praise Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacy, who had gained 46 yards on seven carries in the first quarter against Georgia. But instead of saying “Kewan,” McElroy said “Kyren Lacy.”
Kyren Lacy was a former LSU wide receiver who died by suicide in April. He had been facing charges related to a car crash in December 2024 that killed a 78-year-old man named Herman Hall. According to the Daily Mail, Lacy’s lawyer claimed to have proof that his client wasn’t involved in the accident, but Louisiana police believed he was responsible.
McElroy clearly didn’t mean to bring up this sad event. As soon as he said “Kyren Lacy,” he quickly fixed his mistake and said “Kewan Lacy.” But it was too late, and fans watching on ESPN noticed the slip-up right away.
The mistake sparked a big reaction on social media
Despite the error, McElroy stayed calm and kept doing his job alongside ESPN’s Sean McDonough, who was just named 2025 National Sportscaster of the Year before the Sugar Bowl. Many fans praised both commentators for their work during the game. This isn’t the first time a sports figure’s timing raised questions during a sensitive situation.
Kyren Lacy’s death remains a painful topic for many people. He was arrested on December 17 after the crash that killed Herman Hall. Two days later, Lacy declared for the NFL Draft, but then an arrest warrant was issued for him in Louisiana for leaving the scene of the accident.
Lacy was facing charges of negligent homicide, hit-and-run, and reckless driving. His case was scheduled to go before a grand jury on April 14, but he died two days before that date from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Like many public figures dealing with personal matters, certain family situations attract public attention even during professional milestones.
On April 12, Lacy reportedly had an argument with a family member and fired a gun into the ground. He left the area, and police began searching for him. When officers found his car and tried to pull him over, Lacy led them on a long chase that ended in another crash in Spring, Texas.
Police found Lacy dead in the driver’s seat from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. After his death, Lacy’s attorney John M. Allen III wrote on social media that he believed his client was innocent and that Lacy never fled the scene or caused the crash.
Published: Jan 2, 2026 03:15 pm