A superstar member of the San Francisco 49ers’ defense burst into a post-game televised interview Sunday night to tout his support for former President Donald Trump, a healthy sign of the Republican’s deep well of support in the NFL.
Millions of Sunday Night Football viewers got a taste of defensive end Nick Bosa’s politics when the 27-year-old photo bombed the background of an interview featuring quarterback Brock Purdy’s take on the 30-24 win over the Dallas Cowboys Sunday night. Bosa pointed excitedly at his Make America Great Again hat before running off-screen. Tight end George Kittle, standing off to the side, laughed in disbelief.
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WATCH:
#49ers DE Nick Bosa crashed NBC’s postgame interview with Brock Purdy to flash his Donald Trump “MAGA” hat.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 28, 2024
Despite the league’s liberal bent under longtime Commissioner Roger Goodell, it’s become virtually impossible to hide the MAGA enthusiasm among players growing ever more eager about flashing their political views a week out from Election Day. Harrison Butker, the pious and patriotic kicker for the Kansas City Chiefs, announced earlier this month that he is backing former President Donald Trump in his third bid for the White House. “I’m supporting the president that’s going to be the most pro-life president. I think Donald Trump… [that] is a topic that’s the most crucial topic for me. I want us to be fighting for the most vulnerable, fighting for the unborn, and that’s what we should prioritize,” Butker told Fox News’ Laura Ingraham while campaigning with Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO).
When Butker grew scorn from secular circles for giving a speech encouraging female college graduates to pay greater attention to having children, superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes — whose wife is a vocal Trump supporter — was quick to come to his teammate’s defense. “I’ve known Harrison for seven years and I judge him by the character that he shows every single day—that’s a good person,” said Mahomes. “That’s someone who cares about the people around him, cares about his family, and wants to make a good impact in society.” Mahomes acknowledged differing views within the team, adding, “There are certain things that he said that I don’t necessarily agree with, but I understand the person that he is.”
The vibe shift has been evident for most of 2024 and was palpable long before Vice President Kamala Harris got into the race. Taylor Swift, who endorsed Harris in September, has put a spotlight on liberal politics in the NFL. Following the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, the NFL took a decidedly progressive tack, painting anti-racism messages in the end zones and ordering the Washington Redskins to change their name to the Washington Commanders. Chiefs fans, however, have refused to back down, even after one of the team’s youngest fans was falsely accused in the media of wearing “blackface” at a game. The family of 9-year-old Holden Armenta later sued the parent company for Deadspin, which ran a photo of Armenta wearing a Native American headdress that captured only the right side of his face. Armenta painted his left side red, a game day tradition for Chiefs fans stretching back decades.
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