Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed faced widespread mockery this week after challenging his Republican opponent, Mike Rogers, to a "tackle, no pads" football game. The exchange began when Rogers criticized El-Sayed for past social media posts, some of which have since been deleted, that reportedly advocated against activities like fireworks, football, and the Fourth of July.
Rogers, a former FBI special agent, stated on Fox News that El-Sayed, a former public health official, "spent hours hating on what most Michiganders would enjoy." In response, El-Sayed, 41, posted on X, formerly Twitter, "Since you’re too afraid to debate me, how about you ‘hold me accountable’ on a football field instead. 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' campaign, and others on social media, quickly derided the challenge. The official Mike Rogers War Room X account posted, "That’s an awfully tall threat coming from down there," in reference to El-Sayed's height, noting he claims to be "only 5’9…in shoes."
Former White House Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair commented on X that El-Sayed is "a very hostile person" and criticized his past statements, including one where he compared football to slavery in a YouTube video that has since been removed. Blair added, "No one made him say American football is basically slavery. That was his choice. What a baby."
Former Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt likened El-Sayed to an "Oompa Loompa" with a "serious little man complex," tweeting, "Bro is always overcompensating for something…"
Former Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin questioned the appeal of such a challenge, tweeting, "Who does this appeal to? Does the toxic masculinity crowd like this?"
Rogers' criticism of El-Sayed stems from comments El-Sayed made in 2023 on a pre-Super Bowl podcast. He reportedly said, "Football is very much associated with a particularly masculine and oftentimes toxically masculine culture" and questioned, "Is there a version of football that’s actually ethical, safe?"
El-Sayed previously engaged in an online dispute over football with actor Dean Cain. When Cain publicly questioned if El-Sayed played the sport in high school, El-Sayed responded by posting pictures of himself in his football uniform. He is 41 years old, while Rogers is 63.