CBS reporter Tracy Wolfson was criticized by television viewers for hugging Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen before his interview about the win over Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night.
Wolfson spoke to the victorious quarterback on the field at Highmark just moments after his team had secured their place in next Sunday’s AFC Championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
But fans were unimpressed that Wolfson hugged Allen before they started talking about the game. The clip CBS shared on social media soon after was posted but with the hug cur out but plenty saw it live on the broadcast.
‘So Josh Allen hugged Tracy Wolfson 30 seconds before the post-game interview. Not a great look for CBS,’ said distinguished hockey writer Ken Campbell on X as he watched on from home.
Another viewer said: ‘Tracy Wolfson goes to Josh Allen and gives him a hug? What is that about? Aren’t reporters supposed to be neutral?’
A different fan posted: ‘Is Tracy Wolfson running up and hugging Allen before the interview a bad look? I think so.’
But Wolfson also had people defending her on X. Jimmy Traina, a writer for Sports Illustrated, defended her from on critic.
‘Zero issue with this,’ he said. ‘Tracy Wolfson has been interviewing and spending time in meetings with Josh Allen for 7 or 8 eight years.
‘Players and broadcasters are friends. Her giving Allen a hug after the game has zero impact on how she does her job as a sideline reporter.’
In a response to his post, Traina added: ‘People are nuts. If the Ravens won, she would’ve embraced Lamar. She’s spent hours and hours and hours with these people.’
During his brief chat with Wolfson, Allen hit out at criticism of his Bills team as he turned his attention to facing the Chiefs.
‘How about that Buffalo Bills defense? All year, this team has heard we got no talent,’ Allen told Wolfson.
‘We’re too small, we can’t stop the run. We’re not good enough to compete. We just put our head down and worked hard.
‘I’m so proud of our defense,’ he continued. ‘I’m so proud of our offense and special teams. What a complete win.
‘Obviously, on the offensive side of the ball, we wish we scored a little more so we didn’t have to take it down to the fourth quarter like that. But that’s a really good team, credit to them as well.’
The game against the Chiefs is next Sunday night at 6:30pm Eastern time.
Whoever wins will play the Philadelphia Eagles or Washington Commanders in the Super Bowl in New Orleans on February 9.
