Kansas City Chiefs long snapper James Winchester recently made headlines after being seen wearing a Make America Great Again (MAGA) hat on the field. The photo, shared by Greg Price on X, followed the Chiefs’ overtime win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and quickly circulated online. Although Winchester himself has not publicly expressed political views on his social media, this visible nod to Trump highlighted his quiet alignment with the former president, adding him to a growing list of athletes displaying similar support.
Winchester’s show of support follows that of Patrick Mahomes’ mother, Randi, who was also seen sporting a MAGA hat during the Chiefs’ game. Captured on video by OutKick, Randi Mahomes watched her son play while donning the red cap, subtly endorsing Trump in the process. This shared gesture between Mahomes’ family and his teammate illustrates the former president’s influence extending beyond players to include their families, creating a visible wave of pro-Trump sentiment within the Chiefs’ inner circle.
In the broader NFL community, Trump has found support among other players as well, notably San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa. Bosa was seen in a MAGA hat on an NBC broadcast after a victory over the Dallas Cowboys. When asked about his choice to wear the hat, Bosa declined to elaborate but mentioned the importance of “this time.” His reserved response mirrors the careful political expressions seen in other athletes, where they show support without engaging in extended discussions.
Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker has also endorsed Trump this year, with a particularly strong stance based on his belief that Trump is the “most pro-life president.” Butker, who launched a political action committee focused on pro-life initiatives, voiced his support on Fox’s “The Ingraham Angle,” explaining that the fight for the unborn is his primary concern. This has made Trump’s pro-life position a decisive factor in his endorsement, as he views it as a way to prioritize the needs of the vulnerable.
As the 2024 election approaches, these public gestures by NFL athletes underscore a shift where political expressions are becoming more common in professional sports. Players like Winchester, Butker, and Bosa, each with varying motivations, have shown a willingness to subtly yet unmistakably support Trump, bringing their beliefs into the public eye. Through these small yet significant gestures, they contribute to a broader conversation about politics in sports, suggesting that political alignment could continue to play a role in the athlete-fan relationship going forward.
