As of: February 15, 2024, 7:20 p.m
By: Luca Hartmann
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Björn Werner does not have a say in RTL's Super Bowl broadcast during the game.
Now the ex-NFL star has commented on the incident - and is disappointed.
Las Vegas - The Super Bowl spectacle in Las Vegas was a complete success for the Cologne private broadcaster RTL: Over two million viewers tuned in at the start of the game, the market share among 14 to 49 year olds was almost 70 percent (dwdl.de) .
But some German NFL fans asked themselves during the broadcast why Björn Werner didn't comment on the game as an expert as usual.
Now Werner has commented on it.
Björn Werner left out of the RTL broadcast of the Super Bowl
At the start of the broadcast, around an hour before the start of the game, Werner is initially involved in the preliminary reporting as normal.
Alongside commentator Florian Schmidt-Sommerfeld and other experts Patrick Esume and Sebastian Vollmer, Werner gives his assessments of the game in the RTL commentary booth at the Allegiant Stadium.
There's even a longer clip in which he introduces the San Francisco 49ers and quarterback Brock Purdy in detail.
But then during the game the former NFL player can no longer be heard at all.
As Werner has now revealed in the “Football Bromance” podcast, he received many messages from fans during the broadcast who were wondering about it.
Some even suspected a sudden illness.
He now dispelled these speculations and described his point of view.
Ex-NFL star Björn Werner was not used as an expert for RTL during the Super Bowl.
© IMAGO/Eibner press photo/Florian Schust
Ex-NFL star Werner sad about RTL decision
“A week ago RTL told us all what the plan was and it was said that I would be part of the pregame show and that I would not be commentating in the commentary box during the game and would instead go to Mitja in the separate room.
I should be involved there,” explained Werner.
“Of course I was sad at first, I have to say honestly.
Of course I want to sit in there and comment on the game for you.
But I have to accept that,” he continues.
Apparently he was supposed to at least be integrated from a separate booth alongside the so-called community host Mitja Lafere - but that didn't happen.
“When the game started, I took my place with Mitja.
Unfortunately, I wasn't involved in the show as I was told.
“So I’ll leave it alone for now,” says Werner.
Björn Werner is popular with NFL fans as an expert
According to Werner, he has now expressed his displeasure at the broadcaster for not being taken into account during the broadcast.
“Sometimes it's between two different parties that one isn't happy.
Then you might just have to seek conversation.
RTL knows how I think about it and how I feel.
I told them that openly and honestly,” explains the 33-year-old.
To date, Werner is the only German drafted in the NFL in the first round.
In 2013, the Indianapolis Colts selected him 24th overall.
As a defensive end, he played a total of 38 games for the franchise until 2016.
A short time later he announced the end of his career due to persistent knee problems.
Since then, he has been a regular member of the team of experts on NFL broadcasts on TV and is particularly popular with many fans and viewers because of his relaxed manner.
It is likely to be used again in RTL's football broadcasts next season - perhaps again at the Super Bowl 2025 in New Orleans.
(LuHa)