The NFL will reportedly wait until after Election Day to determine whether to fine Nick Bosa for wearing a MAGA hat while in uniform during Week 8.
The San Francisco 49ers defensive star crashed quarterback Brock Purdy’s NBC postgame interview with Melissa Stark on Sunday Night Football following their win over the Dallas Cowboys. Bosa wore a Make America Great Again hat supporting former president Donald Trump and pointed to the hat for several seconds before walking away.
Nick Bosa crashes his teammates’ postgame interview on ‘Sunday Night Football’ while wearing a Make America Great Again hat. pic.twitter.com/1bTufDbRpc
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 28, 2024
NFL on CBS insider Jonathan Jones reported Friday that the NFL is considering a fine, but will not determine anything until “later next week.” He said the league is not considering a suspension.
Source to @NFLonCBS: The NFL is looking into Nick Bosa wearing a MAGA hat Sunday postgame. There will not be a determination on any potential fine until later next week. I’m told there is no consideration for any potential suspension. pic.twitter.com/6plJWQzE6M
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) November 1, 2024
Bosa’s action angered some fans and delighted others, predictably broken down along political lines. But it also violated league policy.
According to the NFL rulebook, Rule 5, Section 4, Article 8 states that on game day, while a player is visible to the stadium or TV audience, “players are prohibited from wearing, displaying, or otherwise conveying personal messages either in writing or illustration, unless such message has been approved in advance by the league office.
“The league will not grant permission for any club or player to wear, display, or otherwise convey messages, through helmet decals, arm bands, jersey patches, mouthpieces, or other items affixed to game uniforms or equipment, which relate to political activities or causes, other non-football events, causes or campaigns, or charitable causes or campaigns.”
Bosa’s act seems to be a fairly clear-cut violation of that rule. Why would the NFL wait until next week, when similar violations are typically dealt with within a matter of days? That’s a question for the NFL to answer. Obviously, any action, whether Bosa is fined or not, will upset some fans based on the political climate. Even if he’s fined, some fans might criticize the amount, or that he wasn’t suspended.
In the meantime, the act has generated plenty of debate this week in sports media. Bosa came under fire immediately afterward for not talking about his support for Trump, saying, “I’m not gonna talk too much about it, but it’s an important time.”
Sports media personalities from Bomani Jones to Ryan Clark addressed the issue. Clark called out a double standard among fans, saying “I’m just waiting for all the people who comment under political and sports things to ‘shut up and dribble’ or to ‘shut up and play football’ to tell him to ‘shut up and rush.'”
About Arthur Weinstein
Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.