The league is currently not considering a suspension for Nick Bosa, and any possible fines will be addressed after next week’s presidential election. Typically, the NFL reveals fines for the previous week’s games on Saturdays. An NFL spokesperson declined to comment on the potential fine concerning Bosa.
The situation gained attention during an NBC postgame interview when Bosa approached quarterback Brock Purdy and sideline reporter Melissa Stark, pointing to his white MAGA hat with gold lettering before exiting. This incident has raised questions regarding the NFL’s rules on political messaging. Article 8 of the NFL rulebook states that “The League will not permit any club or player to wear, display, or otherwise convey messages related to political activities or causes, non-football events, or charitable campaigns.” This rule is enforced throughout game day, covering pregame warm-ups, bench areas, and postgame interviews.
Bosa’s actions come at a time when he has been a controversial figure since being drafted as the No. 2 pick by the San Francisco 49ers in 2019. Following the game, he was asked about making a political statement ahead of the election. He stated, “I’m not going to talk too much about it, but I think it’s an important time.”
In the past, Bosa has kept his political views private, even deleting social media posts that expressed strong conservative opinions to avoid backlash in the liberal Bay Area. This included a post where he labeled former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick a “clown” for his 2016 national anthem protest against racial inequality and police brutality.
Recently, Bosa has shown a more public engagement with politics. Earlier this year, he and Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow were seen warmly greeting former President Donald Trump at a UFC event in Miami. When asked on Sunday whether he feels more comfortable expressing his political views now, Bosa replied, “It’s definitely a little easier nowadays. But, no, I don’t feel too inclined to do that.” This reflects his ongoing cautious approach to intertwining his sports career with political expression.
