El-Sayed Challenges GOP Rival Rogers to Tackle Football Amidst Feud

Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed has challenged his Republican opponent, Mike Rogers, to a no-pads tackle football game, escalating a public feud that has become increasingly personal. The unusual challenge comes after Rogers, who is more than two decades older than El-Sayed, criticized the Democrat for past comments he made about football culture and holiday traditions.

"Since you’re too afraid to debate me, how about you ‘hold me accountable’ on a football field instead," El-Sayed posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday. "Tackle, no pads like we used to play when we were kids. I’d be happy to show you [how] much I love football." Rogers is 63, while El-Sayed is 41.

Rogers has been highlighting El-Sayed's past remarks, including an October 2021 essay where El-Sayed wrote about "the toxic masculinity at the heart of America’s most popular sport — and men’s sports culture more generally." Rogers stated on Fox News that these are views El-Sayed held strongly but later deleted, suggesting voters would not support him if they knew his opinions. He characterized the comments as hating "what most Michiganders would enjoy in their pastimes."

While El-Sayed has criticized what he describes as toxic elements within sports culture, he has also defended masculinity and spoken out against Democrats perceived as talking down to men. He has also shared fitness-related content as part of a strategy to appeal to male voters. El-Sayed himself played football growing up and captained his high school team, calling sports his "lifeline."

The Rogers campaign responded to El-Sayed's football challenge by mocking his height. The Mike Rogers War Room X account posted, "That’s an awfully tall threat coming from down there." Another post from Rogers' official campaign account used a GIF of actor Will Ferrell saying "he’s an angry elf."

News clippings from El-Sayed's college years list him at 5 feet 9 inches, while a 2008 clipping noted 5 feet 8 inches. El-Sayed's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.