Democrat socialist Abdul El-Sayed has attracted attention for his statements regarding football, both in his discussions and throughout his campaign for state senator in Michigan. At times, El-Sayed has made connections between American football and concepts like toxic masculinity and the transatlantic slave trade. Despite this, he has also shown support for the NFL and the Detroit Lions in his campaign messaging.
In a 2021 essay responding to then Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach Jon Gruden, El-Sayed remarked, “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.” Additionally, he has linked football’s ethos to broader historical and cultural narratives such as Manifest Destiny, the destruction of Native American communities, and the transatlantic slave trade.
El-Sayed recently targeted voters supporting the University of Michigan football team. He and former senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) met with Michigan farmers to discuss issues affecting their industry, including President Trump’s tariff policy, the trade war with Canada, the Iran War, and ICE.
At an event’s conclusion, El-Sayed urged farmers to reach out to friends and neighbors with opposing political views from the recent election. He advised not to “indict” those who made a “bad decision that they can’t take back.” He suggested that conversations shift away from politics, joking about the University of Michigan winning football games “without cheating,” eliciting some awkward laughter.
Reactions online have been negative toward El-Sayed’s comments, especially from those supporting Michigan football. Former Vice President Kamala Harris joined El-Sayed in a roundtable discussion on September 22, 2026, at Birth Detroit.
Michigan superfan and founder of Barstool Sports, Dave Portnoy, responded to the controversy by labeling El-Sayed in a negative light. El-Sayed’s opponent, Mike Rogers, also reacted by supporting Portnoy’s statement.
Some commentators have indicated that El-Sayed’s remarks may cost him votes, especially among Michigan alumni.
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