The National Football League (NFL) fined San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa $11,255 for wearing a MAGA hat during a postgame interview last month.
Bosa wore the hat during a televised interview after the 49ers defeated the Dallas Cowboys on “Sunday Night Football” on October 27th.
NEW: 49ers Defensive Lineman Nick Bosa has been fined $11,225 by the NFL for wearing a MAGA hat on the field during interviews
Worth EVERY single penny!
pic.twitter.com/o0ZZMOcuK7
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) November 10, 2024
Bosa told reporters he knew there could be a fine.
He said it would be “well worth it.”
Nick Bosa of the San Fransisco 49er’s has been fined $11,255 by the NFL for wearing a MAGA hat.
Bosa’s response: “It was well worth it”
pic.twitter.com/jg2C7iV6ym
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) November 10, 2024
From the New York Post:
Per multiple reports, the hat violated Rule 5, section 4, article 8 of the NFL rulebook, which reads: “Throughout the period on game-day that a player is visible to the stadium and television audience (including in pregame warm-ups, in the bench area, and during postgame interviews in the locker room or on the field), players are prohibited from wearing, displaying, or otherwise conveying personal messages either in writing or illustration, unless such message has been approved in advance by the League office.”
ADVERTISEMENTWhen addressing reporters this week, Bosa acknowledged that he knew a fine from the league could follow, but said that it’d be “well worth it.”
“Well, I don’t think my position on speaking about it is going to change,” Bosa said this week when asked why he decided to make the political statement. “Clearly, the nation spoke, and we got what we got.”
After the 49ers’ Week 8 game, when they defeated the Cowboys, 30-24, without stars Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk, quarterback Brock Purdy, tight end George Kittle and running back Isaac Guerendo — three of the pieces that allowed San Francisco to still hit 30 points despite the absences — were being interviewed by NBC’s Melissa Stark on the field, and Bosa walked over behind Purdy and motioned toward his hat.
He exited the camera frame moments later, and Stark said, “Alright, Nick Bosa with a message there.”
WATCH:
BOOM!!!!
Nick Bosa just sported the MAGA hat on National Television!
EVERYONE is speaking out now.
More will come.
THE TIDE HAS TURNED! pic.twitter.com/ZHdVYz1Urf
— Graham Allen (@GrahamAllen_1) October 28, 2024
Per ESPN:
After wearing the hat in support of former President Donald Trump’s candidacy during the postgame interview, Bosa made his way to the podium for his usual postgame session. When asked multiple times about his decision to wear the hat, Bosa declined to elaborate on his reasoning, saying, “I’m not going to talk too much about it, but I think it’s an important time.”
The 49ers had their bye after the win against the Cowboys. Bosa did not speak to media again until his usual Wednesday session, which followed Tuesday’s election, where Trump was declared the winner. On Wednesday, Bosa, who signed a five-year, $170 million extension in 2023, again declined to discuss his decision to wear the hat but noted that he had a “good time” watching the election coverage and stayed up for the results.
“I don’t think my position on speaking about it is going to change,” Bosa said. “Clearly, the nation spoke. And we got what we got.”
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