San Francisco 49ers defensive star Nick Bosa recently found himself in the spotlight after showcasing a “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) hat during a postgame interview on October 27, drawing praise from conservative circles.

Oct 10, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa (97) returns to the locker room following early pregame warmups against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

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The NFL responded with an $11,255 fine against Bosa for what it deemed a violation of its uniform policy, sparking further debate and a wave of support from both fans and prominent figures.

Bosa’s show of support for President-elect Donald Trump quickly resonated across social media.

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Among the high-profile supporters, entrepreneur Elon Musk, a vocal ally of Trump, reacted to Bosa’s fine with a post on X (formerly Twitter), using a combination of fire and American flag emojis.

Oct 5, 2024; Butler, PA, USA; Elon Musk joins former President Donald Trump on stage as Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa., on October 5, 2024. On July 13, 2024, a gunman fired eight rounds at the former president and Republican presidential nominee during a rally in Butler. Trump was grazed by a bullet in the attack, and Pennsylvania firefighter Corey Comperatore was killed as he tried to shield his family from the attack. Two other men were injured.. Mandatory Credit: Jasper Colt-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Musk’s ties to the Trump campaign have been significant, with Musk reportedly contributing over $130 million to Trump’s election efforts, particularly focused on swing states like Pennsylvania.

The response to Bosa’s MAGA hat wasn’t confined to Musk. Many fans voiced support for Bosa, seeing his actions as a stand for free speech and personal beliefs. “Nick Bosa gets it. Standing for what’s right is always worth the cost,” Riley Gaine shared on X.

However, not all reactions were supportive; critics pointed out that Bosa refrained from elaborating on his views when questioned by reporters, with one detractor calling him a “coward” for not further discussing his stance.

When asked about the MAGA hat, Bosa chose to keep his comments brief, simply calling it “an important time” but adding that he preferred not to “talk too much about” his decision.

He later clarified that he did not regret wearing the hat, despite the subsequent fine, stating, “It was well worth it.”

The NFL rulebook restricts political expression without league approval, as outlined in Rule 5, Section 4, Article 8.

This provision likely factored into Bosa’s fine, despite the postgame setting.

Bosa’s endorsement of Trump and conservative ideals is not new. In 2019, he revealed that he had previously removed pro-Trump posts and critical comments about former 49ers quarterback and activist Colin Kaepernick from his X account.

Bosa explained that he scrubbed his account out of concern for how his views might be received in San Francisco, should he be drafted by the 49ers.

Former Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher voiced his approval for Bosa on Instagram, posting “MAGA” with American flag emojis under a photo collage shared by Bosa, including the now-controversial MAGA hat moment. Urlacher’s comment added to the list of NFL personalities openly backing Bosa.

 

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Bosa’s political stance is echoed by other Trump-supporting players in the NFL, including Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, who voiced his endorsement for Trump earlier this year.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes hasn’t publicly endorsed any candidate, but his mother, Randi Mahomes, has openly shown support for Trump, while Mahomes’ wife, Brittany, has liked pro-Trump posts online.

The punishment meted out to Bosa by the NFL, and the reaction it sparked, emphasize the ongoing convergence of sports and political arenas, where figures like Bosa are celebrated and criticized for their political expressions.

The fine has done little to deter Bosa or his supporters, illustrating the continued resonance of the MAGA message among certain segments of the NFL’s fan base.

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