The NFL issued an $11,255 fine to San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa for sporting a MAGA hat on the field following Week 8’s 30–24 win over the Dallas Cowboys.
After the game, Bosa crashed a postgame interview on NBC with quarterback Brock Purdy and pointed to a white and gold “Make America Great Again” hat on his head. It wasn’t hard to interpret the message.
“It was well worth it,” Bosa said on Wednesday about a potential fine after the presidential election results became official. “I don’t think my position on speaking about it is going to change. Clearly, the nation spoke and we got what we got.”
When speaking with reporters on the Monday after the Week 8 game, Bosa declined to elaborate much on his statement, saying only, “I’m not going to talk too much about it, but I think it’s an important time.”
Five days later, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports and Mark Maske of the Washington Post both reported the NFL was reviewing Bosa’s appearance for potential discipline. A suspension isn’t on the table, but he faced a potential fine, with no decision to come until later next week (read: after all votes are cast in the 2024 presidential election).
Rule 5, Section 4, Article 8 the NFL rulebook specifically prohibits players from wearing gear with any sort of personal or political message:
“The League will not grant permission for any club or player to wear, display, or otherwise convey messages, through helmet decals, arm bands, jersey patches, mouthpieces, or other items affixed to game uniforms or equipment, which relate to political activities or causes, other non-football events, causes or campaigns, or charitable causes or campaigns.”
You would imagine a MAGA hat meets that definition.
Bosa has been among the most visible supporters of former president Donald Trump in the NFL’s ranks for years, and likely won’t be sweating the fine too much. He is currently playing on a five-year, $170 million contract.
A four-time Pro Bowler in five seasons since being taken second overall in the 2019 NFL Draft, Bosa has recorded 28 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and an interception through eight games this season.
