Over 50 former football players and coaches, including Pro Football Hall of Famers and Super Bowl MVPs, have endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz for the 2024 U.S. presidential election. The group represents 25 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and includes 10 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees, two Super Bowl champions and MVPs, former No. 1 overall picks, and pioneers who broke the color barrier in the sport. In a letter obtained by CBS News, the athletes and coaches expressed confidence in Harris’ integrity, values, and commitment to justice and equality of opportunity, believing that she would serve the best interests of all Americans.
The endorsement of Harris and Walz comes at a time when initiatives like National Black Voter Day are focused on increasing voter registration among Black Americans. Led by Black Entertainment Television and partnering with 40 civic organizations including the NAACP and National Urban League, the aim is to engage and mobilize Black voters heading into the November elections. The support from athletes, joining NBA stars like Steph Curry and Magic Johnson, further highlights the importance of political engagement and the influence that sports figures can have on social and political issues.
Harris’ recent appearance before the National Association of Black Journalists in Philadelphia addressed questions about her appeal to Black men, given recent polling showing a divide in support between her and former President Donald Trump among African American men under 50. Harris emphasized the importance of earning the vote and not taking any demographic for granted, highlighting her own background as an alumna of Howard University and the Biden-Harris administration’s investments in HBCUs and minority-serving institutions. If elected, Harris would be the first HBCU graduate to serve as President, a fact that the campaign has emphasized in outreach to these communities.
Harris’ personal ties to HBCUs, including her alma mater Howard University, have been a focal point of her campaign messaging. She has attended sporting events like the Celebration Bowl and supported Howard’s basketball team during their NCAA tournament appearance, showcasing her enthusiasm for sports and connection to the HBCU community. The endorsement from former football players and coaches adds to a growing list of supporters for the Harris-Walz ticket, highlighting their appeal to a diverse range of audiences and the importance of political engagement in the world of sports.
Nikole Killion, a CBS News congressional correspondent based in Washington D.C., has covered the endorsement of Harris and Walz by former football players and coaches. Killion played a key role in the network’s 2020 political and election coverage, providing insights into the significance of sports figures endorsing political candidates and the impact it can have on voter mobilization. By covering these developments, Killion has contributed to the understanding of how sports and politics intersect and influence each other, highlighting the power of athletes and coaches in shaping public opinion and supporting candidates they believe in.
