San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa, following a victory over the Dallas Cowboys, used the postgame interview to show his support for the former president Donald Trump, by sporting a “Make America Great Again” baseball cap. However, the NFL has for years, actively discouraged political statements at games. Back in 2018, the NFL modified its pregame policy to discourage players like Colin Kaepernick from protesting against police brutality and racial discrimination. NFL Players Association put the new rule on hold, however this controversial topic was reignited following Bosa’s public political endorsement.
Under the NFL’s uniform rule, players can be fined over $11,000 for wearing unauthorized logos or slogans. If the NFL fails to penalize Bosa, it may give an impression of a double standard, especially considering the league’s past reaction to black players who protested against systemic racism during games. The league, at the time of reporting, did not respond to on the incident.
Bosa has a history of creating controversies with his personal beliefs. Prior to his selection in the NFL draft, he was known to regularly praise Trump and even referred to Colin Kaepernick as a “clown”. He deleted some controversial posts from his social media that were considered insensitive or offensive before the draft. Bosa appeared remorseful and said that being in San Francisco would help him grow as a person.
However, this recent political display by Bosa indicates that his past remorse may have been short-lived and insincient. He, however, isn’t the only player to openly support Trump. Tom Brady, a highly respected NFL player, also interviewed with a Trump hat visible in his locker during the 2016 presidental election.
The real issue at hand is whether the NFL treats political expressions of all its players fairly. Kaepernick faced career-altering consequences for his fight for social justice, while Bosa’s political endorsement seems to have been largely ignored by the league. The NFL has a history of double standards, for instance, being harsh on players but lenient with owners on matters of personal conduct.
As the NFL decides on their next course of action for Bosa, critics argue that the outcome will reveal if the league practices double standards when it comes to players’ political expressions. On the other hand, some suggest that no action will be taken against Bosa due to the league’s history of treating social and political issues with double standards. The situation thus eventually raises significant questions about the racial and social politics of the NFL, one of America’s most powerful sports league.
