Is Denzel Boston related to David Boston? Why Mike Greenberg's mistake confused NFL fans originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
On Friday, Denzel Boston became the first wide receiver taken in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft. This sparked questions about whether the former Washington receiver was related to former NFL receiver David Boston.
According to Mike Greenberg on the ESPN broadcast, he indeed was. However, after a deeper dive into the facts, the truth is different from what was originally reported.
Here is an explanation of whether the Boston-named athletes are related, or if Mike Greenberg was mistaken.
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No, the Cleveland Browns' newest wide receiver is not related to former NFL wide receiver, David.
Despite the nonrelation, however, Mike Greenberg mistakenly said he was on ESPN's broadcast. Here is the clip:
No greeny, that is not David BostonThat is Chris Boston, Denzel’s father pic.twitter.com/u7rEqS1U96
— Official Ohio State DG (@DylanEveryday) April 24, 2026
Denzel's father is named Chris, who was sitting to the left of the wide receiver on the screen.
During the third round, roughly an hour and a half later, Greenberg issued an apology on air for the mix-up. He admitted that he was mistaken about Denzel and David being related.
The former Washington receiver's parents are named Chris and Rechelle Boston. The two raised Denzel and his three older brothers in Boise, Idaho.
The former NFL wide receiver has three children. He has one daughter, Alaia, and two sons, Jaylen and Brayden.
His son, Brayden, is a highly-touted Class of 2033 basketball player.
While some online sources, and Mike Greenberg, have previously associated him with Denzel Boston, the Browns' newest draft acquisition, the two are not related.
The 2026 draftee was born in Boise, Idaho, on December 6, 2003. However, he grew up in South Hill, Washington.
He attended Emerald Ridge High School in Puyallup, Wash., before playing collegiately at the University of Washington.
David Boston was born on August 19, 1978, in Humble, Texas. He attended Humble High School and later played college football at Ohio State University before being drafted into the NFL in 1999.
He had a six-year NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals (1999-2002), San Diego Chargers (2003), and Miami Dolphins (2005).