Dem Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed questioned football's ethics in resurfaced clip
El-Sayed, a former high school football captain, raised concerns about CTE, toxic masculinity, and violence in the sport.
Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed questioned the ethics and safety of American football in a resurfaced podcast clip from 2023, according to a report by the Republican Party. El-Sayed, a Democrat, raised concerns about the risk of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) for players and what he perceived as ties to "toxic masculinity" and violence.
"What is it about this brutal sport that keeps us coming back?" El-Sayed is heard saying in the podcast. "Is there a version of football that's actually ethical and safe? What would need to change?"
This is not the first time El-Sayed has voiced concerns about the sport. Earlier in September, he released a video questioning the rising cost of attending NFL games, noting that high ticket and concession prices can exclude many.
"It's gotten way too expensive," he stated in the video, which depicted him throwing and catching a football. "That means that something that's supposed to bring us all together, like football, separates those who have and those who have not."
El-Sayed also commented on taxpayer subsidies for football stadiums, pointing out that despite public funding, ticket prices continue to increase.
In October 2021, El-Sayed wrote that "the toxic masculinity at the heart of America’s most popular sport — and men’s sports culture more generally — is way deeper than a few emails or a Jay-Z turnaround." Despite his criticisms of certain aspects of male sports culture, El-Sayed has also defended masculinity and shared fitness-related content aimed at appealing to male voters. He played football growing up and served as captain of his high school team, describing sports as his "lifeline."