NFL Reportedly Delayed Nick Bosa’s MAGA Hat Fine Until After The Election To Avoid Appearing Anti-Trump

The NFL wanted to stay out of politics, eh? A couple of weeks ago, the all-powerful National Football League suddenly had a political problem on their hands. They've long tried to distance themselves from politics (or have they?), and in a flash, one of the biggest defensive stars in the league - Nick Bosa - showed his support for Donald Trump on live national television. The standout defensive player for the San Francisco 49ers has always been outspoken about who he supports politically, and he made that loud and clear when he crashed a Sunday Night Football postgame interview wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat. As you’ll see in the clip below, Bosa didn’t say anything to interrupt Brock Purdy’s interview. He just simply ran into frame while wearing the hat, pointed at it, and then exited from the view of the camera: https://twitter.com/NFL_Memes/status/1850749518804844946 It was a "blink-and-you'll miss-it" moment. Later on that night during Bosa’s availability with the media, the 49ers star had opted for a hat change. When he was asked about making the political statement that he did by photo-bombing the SNF broadcast, Bosa decided to keep things short: “I’m not gonna talk too much about it, but I think it’s an important time.” https://twitter.com/bennyjohnson/status/1850763854797521208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1850763854797521208%7Ctwgr%5Ee3475a8546b191f3f53b7040625337f0db1d1992%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.whiskeyriff.com%2F2024%2F11%2F06%2Fit-was-well-worth-it-nick-bosa-defends-wearing-a-maga-hat-after-trump-win%2F And that's not even close to where the story ends. Since then, Bosa has doubled down (and tripled down) on his pro-Trump stance. He told reporters that asked him about the whole situation that the flashing of the MAGA hat on Sunday Night Football was "well worth it" since Donald Trump went on to win the election. He also recently celebrated a sack by doing Trump's patented "YMCA" dance. The San Fran star was later hit with a $11,255 fine, which seems like a lot for wearing a hat, right? Though if you do the math and factor in that Bosa signed a 5-year contract extension worth $170 million last year, he can afford to wear plenty of MAGA hats on air - as long as he still finds it worth it do so. Bosa flashing the MAGA hat was actually a violation of NFL rules. The rule book states that as long as players are visible to a television or stadium audience (including but not limited to pregame festivities and postgame press conferences) they are not allowed to display any political messaging unless otherwise cleared with the league office. That rule applies to any “personal messaging,” and the rulebook also adds a fun additional detail of “such approved items must be modest in size, tasteful, non-commercial, and non-controversial.” Notice that it doesn't say anything in there about players being penalized for their actions only after a presidential election's results go final. The NFL rulebook might as well say that though, considering the reports that are coming out suggesting the National Football League waited to slam the fine down on Bosa until after the election was over. The Wall Street Journal reported that the league delayed the $11,255 fine until Donald Trump officially won the 2024 Presidential Election because they didn't want it to look like they were making an anti-Donald Trump statement. Players are usually hit with their fines within a week of their offense, but Bosa's penalty came almost a full two weeks after he flashed his MAGA hat. From the looks of it, Bosa will continue welcoming whatever penalties and fines the NFL throws his way. He's going to keep supporting the former and soon-to-be-again President of the United States...