“Look, I just want to play football,” said Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt when approached by reporters after practice. “I don’t really get involved in the politics of it all. If Coach Tomlin says we’re boycotting something, I’m going to focus on the game plan.”
Others, however, were not so diplomatic. “Honestly, I don’t understand why we’re doing this,” said an unnamed player who requested anonymity for obvious reasons. “It’s just a night where we show support for fans who, you know, happen to be LGBTQ+. I’m pretty sure that doesn’t affect how we perform on the field.”
Some players, especially those more active on social justice issues, have privately expressed concerns over the team’s stance. After all, it’s not exactly easy to promote unity within the team when your organization is picking public fights with the rainbow flag.
With the Steelers following the Chiefs’ lead, other teams now find themselves under the microscope. Fans are wondering which franchise will be the next to jump on the “woke and satanic” bandwagon, as if somehow acknowledging Pride Nights is a slippery slope into a football version of “The Exorcist.”
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Teams like the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks, which have historically embraced inclusive initiatives, have remained conspicuously silent, perhaps hoping this controversy will pass like a brief commercial break. Meanwhile, some league insiders are speculating that this could lead to even bigger clashes between NFL teams and the league itself, which has made efforts to appeal to a broader audience.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, whose job these days seems to involve navigating between various political landmines, has yet to comment on the Steelers’ boycott. But considering the league’s attempts to balance progress with appeasing its more conservative fanbase, it’s only a matter of time before Goodell finds himself issuing another vague, “We’re all about unity” statement.
The real question now is: What happens next? With Pride Nights off the table, it remains unclear whether the Steelers plan to boycott other events they deem “woke” or “satanic.” Will Breast Cancer Awareness Month be next? After all, those pink towels could be deemed just as “distracting” as rainbow flags. And heaven forbid the NFL hosts another military appreciation night, lest they be accused of weaponizing patriotism.
