Football player Nick Bosa fined by NFL after wearing ‘Make America Great Again’ hat during postgame interview on NBC Sunday night football.
According to The Washington Postthe San Francisco 49ers defensive end was fined $11,255 after wearing a hat while falling during an interview with NBC’s Melissa Stark following the 49ers’ win over the Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 27. Stark was in the process of interviewing Bosa’s teammates Brock Purdy, George Kittle and Isaac Guerend when the moment happened.
During the interview — which has since gone viral on X (formerly Twitter) — Bosa, 27, can be seen walking into the frame and pointing to his hat, which featured President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign slogan.
In his postgame interview, Bosa acknowledged the moment, saying, “I’m not going to talk too much about it, but I think it’s an important time,” according to ABC News. The athlete shared a photo of the moment on his Instagram the next day, October 28.
On Wednesday, November 6, in an interview published on X, Bosa told reporters that he was not punished at the time, “but if it comes, it comes.” When asked if he knew wearing a MAGA hat during the show could have resulted in a fine, he said, “It was worth it.”
“I don’t think my attitude will change if I talk about it. It’s clear that the people spoke and we got what we got,” continued Bosa, talking about the results of the presidential elections in 2024.
Nick Bosa at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clarita, California on October 27, 2024.
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The NFL’s official policy states that players are “prohibited from wearing, displaying or otherwise transmitting personal messages, whether written or illustrated,” unless the message is previously approved by the league.
In addition, the organization “shall not permit any club or player to wear, display or otherwise transmit messages … relating to political activities or causes, other non-football events, causes or campaigns or charitable causes or campaigns.”
These rules apply to players when they are visible to stadium and television audiences and include post-match interviews on the field and in the locker room.
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Nick Bosa on the field in October 2024.
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Bosa has been vocal in the past about his support for the president-elect, and Trump, 78, congratulated the athlete on joining the 49ers in a 2019 post on X.
“Congratulations to Nick Bosa on being selected number two in the NFL draft,” Trump wrote at the time. “You will be a great player for years to come, maybe one of the best. Great talent! San Francisco will embrace you, but most importantly, always stay true to yourself. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Bosa signed a five-year, $170 million contract extension with the 49ers in September 2023, which included $122.5 million guaranteed, according to NFL.com. The player has not yet made a public statement about the punishment.
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Source: HIS Education