Seahawks Star Refused To Respond to Comedian's Apology

Jaxon Smith-Njigba ignored Druski's attempt to apologize for mispronouncing his name during NFL Honors

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba refused to respond to a phone call from comedian Druski, who had mispronounced Smith-Njigba's name in a way that sounded like a racial slur during the NFL Honors ceremony where Smith-Njigba was named Offensive Player of the Year. Druski publicly apologized and said he had reached out to Smith-Njigba privately, but the Seahawks star never responded.

Why it matters

The incident highlighted ongoing issues around the respect and proper pronunciation of players' names, especially those with non-English origins. It also raised questions about how public figures should handle mistakes and whether apologies are sufficient when they cause offense.

The details

During the NFL Honors ceremony, presenter Druski deliberately mispronounced Jaxon Smith-Njigba's name in a way that sounded like a racial slur. Smith-Njigba, who is of Sierra Leonean descent, was visibly upset by the incident. Druski later apologized publicly and said he had reached out to Smith-Njigba privately, but the Seahawks star never responded to his call.

  • On February 10, 2026, Druski mispronounced Jaxon Smith-Njigba's name during the NFL Honors ceremony.
  • In the aftermath, Smith-Njigba shared the history of his family's Sierra Leonean surname.

The players

Jaxon Smith-Njigba

A wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks who was named Offensive Player of the Year at the 2026 NFL Honors ceremony.

Druski

A social media personality and comedian who presented the Offensive Player of the Year award at the 2026 NFL Honors ceremony.

Uchenna Nwosu

An outside linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks who criticized Druski on social media following the incident.

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What they’re saying

“For sure, I mean I like to mess around. And you know sometimes you can go too far. I even hit him up and reached out. And you know congratulations to him, the team on the Super Bowl, I think that was an amazing thing. And yeah I didn't get no response back, but I did reach out. I tried, I tried.”

— Druski, Comedian (CBS Mornings)

The takeaway

This incident highlights the importance of respecting players' names and identities, especially those with non-English origins. While Druski attempted to apologize, the lack of response from Smith-Njigba suggests the damage had already been done and the apology may not have been sufficient to repair the hurt caused.