The following piece is an opinion and does not reflect the views of The Eagle and its staff. All opinions are edited for grammar, style and argument structure and fact-checked, but the opinions are the writer’s own.
From Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show statement to the attendance of President Donald Trump and the varied reactions to his presence from the players, Super Bowl LIX reflected many of the current tensions within the nation. As a microcosm of the conversations around privilege, politics and race that are so prominent today, this Super Bowl proved to be much more than a sporting event.
Before the game, players from each team participated in a media day — fielding questions from reporters about silly topics such as their favorite color to serious inquiries about their thoughts on Trump’s attendance. With the undoubtedly polarizing nature of the current president and his administration, it was no surprise that the players’ answers varied greatly.
Players on each team showed varied support and opposition to Trump. On the Kansas City Chiefs side, top players and team leaders Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce reflected on Trump’s attendance, saying it’s “always cool to be able to play in front of a sitting president, someone that is at the top position in our country” and “a great honor,” respectively. While such responses are not inherently supportive of Trump or his politics, they are not exactly condemnations, either.
Looking into the history of Chiefs players’ politics, it appears the organization has taken a lax role in managing its players’ statements. In what became a viral moment of 2024, the team’s kicker — Harrison Butker — delivered a commencement speech at Benedictine College in which he spoke ill of the LGBTQ+ community and declared that the women graduating that day were likely more excited about their future husbands, children and homes, rather than their degrees and careers. While the NFL publicly distanced itself from Butker’s speech and views, the Chiefs organization stayed silent, with Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt refusing to condemn Butler’s words.
On the Philadelphia Eagles side, quarterback Jalen Hurts had a short, professional response, saying, “He’s welcome to do what he wants.” As an advocate for equality in sports — highlighted by his all-female management team — Hurts’ statement was likely a cordial way of verbalizing his discontent with the current president. Given the organization and Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie’s history of denouncing racism and using the team’s platform and resources to promote change, it is not surprising that the majority of the Eagles were less than thrilled about Trump’s attendance.
This year, the NFL removed the “End Racism” slogan from the endzone of the Super Bowl field, opting for the more ambiguous “Choose Love.” As many companies and corporations have been following suit with Trump’s actions and curbing their diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and protections, this move by the NFL seems all but coincidental.
As a corporation that continually profits off Black bodies yet does not do nearly enough to ensure the safety of those individuals, the NFL’s history of racism is far from in the past. The idea that Black quarterbacks could not succeed in the position was prominent for many years. Super Bowl LIX was only the second time in the history of the NFL that two Black quarterbacks started. However, despite the success of Hurts, Mahomes and many others, evidence still shows that racial bias significantly influences how teams select quarterbacks in the draft.
As the keystone of this racially charged Super Bowl, Lamar’s halftime show alluded to racism, American society and the struggles of Black people. Narrated by Samuel L. Jackson, the performance’s imagery, music and spoken word visualized and verbalized some of the very issues plaguing the NFL. The “cultural divide” Lamar refers to was on full display at Super Bowl LIX.
Though such a coveted national stage like the Super Bowl or the NFL seems out of reach for the average viewer, we, as consumers and fans, can create change. Every time we buy official team merchandise or purchase tickets for a game, we are supporting a team and its morals. Next time, think before you click buy, and maybe if your team refuses to condemn bigotry, use your money to make a statement and decide not to support that organization. Such practices can expand further than the NFL or the realm of professional sports. If you are able, I urge you to use your influence as a consumer to make a statement about the change you want.
Addie DiPaolo is a sophomore in the School of Public Affairs and a columnist for The Eagle.
This article was edited by Quinn Volpe, Alana Parker and Abigail Turner. Copy editing done by Luna Jinks, Olivia Citarella and Nicole Kariuki.
