(Scypre.com) – San Francisco 49ers star defensive end Nick Bosa faces a $11,255 fine after crashing his teammates’ postgame interview to support former President Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign with a “Make America Great Again” hat, a source within the NFL told CNN.
The incident took place following the 49ers’ 30-24 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Bosa, 27, was seen jogging up to an ongoing interview with teammates Brock Purdy, George Kittle, and Isaac Guerendo, who were speaking with NBC’s Melissa Stark. Bosa momentarily interrupted the broadcast by running between Stark and Purdy, making sure to highlight the slogan on his hat, then jogging off the stage.
NFL policy is clear on displays of personal messages during games and postgame activities. The NFL rulebook states, “Throughout the period on game-day that a player is visible to the stadium and television audience (including in pregame warm-ups, in the bench area, and during postgame interviews in the locker room or on the field), 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.”
When questioned about the incident, Bosa was candid but unfazed by the potential for a fine. “I haven’t got one yet, but if it comes, it comes,” he told reporters. “It was well worth it.” Bosa also implied his stance was unshakeable, saying, “I don’t think my position on speaking about it is going to change. Clearly, the nation spoke. And we got what we got.”
His family appeared to stand behind his gesture. Bosa’s mother, Cheryl, reposted a clip of the incident on her social media, praising her son’s actions with the caption: “(Cheryl Bosa) you raised your boy right!! #BOSAFORTRUMP.”
Bosa’s support for Trump is not new. Before joining the NFL in 2019 as the 49ers’ second overall pick, Bosa voiced his political leanings while at Ohio State. Old tweets show Bosa had shared messages supporting Trump and even criticized Colin Kaepernick, the former 49ers quarterback known for sparking the kneeling movement during the national anthem to protest racial injustice and police brutality. Bosa had once called Kaepernick a “clown” in a tweet, a comment he later apologized for, saying at a 2019 press conference, “I respect what [Kaepernick’s] done. If it empowers anybody, then he’s doing a good thing. I apologize for that.”
Kaepernick’s decision to kneel sparked a national debate, and Trump often criticized players who protested during the anthem, calling for the NFL to penalize them. Kaepernick eventually sued the league, alleging collusion to keep him out of the NFL, a lawsuit that was settled privately.
Ahead of his NFL debut, Bosa deleted some of his more divisive posts, including those on topics such as Kaepernick, Beyoncé, and the film Black Panther. ESPN reported that when asked about the deleted posts, Bosa explained, “I had to,” suggesting he anticipated landing in San Francisco, a city known for its progressive views.
Upon Bosa’s draft selection, Trump congratulated the young player with a public message, urging him to stay authentic to his values. “San Francisco will embrace you, but most importantly, always stay true to yourself. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump posted.
Bosa’s fine brings up ongoing questions within the NFL about players’ freedom to express political beliefs, especially given the league’s sometimes inconsistent stance on such issues. It remains to be seen how the league will continue to balance players’ self-expression with the rules in place. For now, Bosa’s bold gesture, and his willingness to take the penalty, continue to generate buzz both on and off the field.