The NFL is under fire for a controversial segment during the Super Bowl LVII broadcast.
Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs defeated Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles, 38-35, in a legendary game marred by a controversial ending.
During the broadcast, the NFL took time out of the game to honor Pat Tillman scholars:
Pat Tillman Foundation Scholars are the honorary captains for the #SBLVII coin toss.
📺: #SBLVII on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/d8gBDzRt2m pic.twitter.com/lshABfH7TC— NFL (@NFL) February 12, 2023
Tillman is a controversial figure in military history. Partly moved to join the military after 9-11, he was the victim of friendly fire in Afghanistan and the subject of a subsequent government coverup.
The NFL was lambasted for using the ceremony to skip over the uglier parts of Tillman’s ultimate legacy:
ah i see we’re kicking things off with a revisionist Pat Tillman 9/11 thing
— Katherine Krueger (@kath_krueger) February 12, 2023
“Ah, I see we’re kicking things off with a revisionist Pat Tillman 9/11 thing,” wrote Katherine Krueger.
Obviously the Army killing Pat Tillman and covering it up afterwards is the worst thing the U.S. military did to him, but the years they’ve spent rolling out his portrait backed by some inspirational music as a recruiting tool is a surprisingly close second
— Jay Willis (@jaywillis) February 12, 2023
“Obviously the Army killing Pat Tillman and covering it up afterwards is the worst thing the U.S. military did to him, but the years they’ve spent rolling out his portrait backed by some inspirational music as a recruiting tool is a surprisingly close second,” wrote Jay Willis.
Dragging Pat Tillman’s corpse out once again to lie about him.
— luke (@lukeoneil47) February 12, 2023
“Dragging Pat Tillman’s corpse out once again to lie about him,” Luke O’Neil tweeted.
The NFL just glossing over how Pat Tillman died. "In the line of duty," sure that's one way of putting it.
— jordan (@JordanUhl) February 12, 2023
“The NFL just glossing over how Pat Tillman died. ‘In the line of duty,’ sure that’s one way of putting it,” Jordan Uhl wrote.
Pat Tillman's story is the most anti-war tale you can possibly imagine. Just a tragedy and an absolute waste. The worst decision with the worst outcome.
But it's trotted out as some noble sacrifice and pro-war "oorah" that just makes no sense to me.
— Hugh Howey (@hughhowey) February 13, 2023
“Pat Tillman’s story is the most anti-war tale you can possibly imagine. Just a tragedy and an absolute waste. The worst decision with the worst outcome. But it’s trotted out as some noble sacrifice and pro-war ‘oorah’ that just makes no sense to me,” Hugh Howey wrote.
The NFL did not immediately respond to criticism of the segment.
[NFL]
