The Pittsburgh Steelers had two active players on their team, quarterback Mason Rudolph and safety Miles Killebrew, attend a local rally for President Donald Trump, and Trump even welcomed the pair on stage.
With Trump being such a controversial president, the players going on stage angered many Steelers fans, who reached out to the organization to make their displeasure known.
The fan response was so strong that the organization drafted an official response distancing itself from Trump and clarifying that Rudolph and Killebrew don’t reflect the official views of the franchise.
“We appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts with us. As valued fans, your voice is an essential part of what makes our Steelers community and fan base so strong,” the statement read, per Pro Football Talk.
“We understand that a recent rally in Pittsburgh has generated a range of reactions from our fan base. Our alumni and current players make their own individual decisions that reflect their views, and they do not necessarily represent the view of the entire Pittsburgh Steelers organization.
“Thank you again for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your passion and your continued support of the team.”
The Rooney family, who have owned the Steelers for generations, have been consistent and vocal supporters of the democratic party, so it’s not an enormous surprise to see the franchise putting some distance between itself and Trump.
It’ll be interesting to see if Trump responds to the statement.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.