President Donald Trump weighed in on which NFL coach could potentially make a great president during an interview on ESPN’s The Pat McAfee Show, which aired Tuesday.
Trump, while maintaining his characteristic ambivalence, took the opportunity to reflect on the leadership qualities of NFL coaches and the shifting landscape of college and professional sports.
The president joined the show just days after he made history by attending the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders game on Sunday and making comments with announcers on Fox during the game.
Why It Matters
President Trump’s remarks came at a time when sports figures and celebrities are increasingly drawn into political conversations in the United States.
The question about NFL coaches and political leadership offers insight into how sports leadership and politics are often paralleled in American cultural discussion, especially in the lead-up to major elections.
The segment also reflected ongoing national debates over college sports regulations, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) compensation, and leadership in both sports and government.
What To Know
During the live broadcast of The Pat McAfee Show filmed from the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island, S.C., Trump joined via call-in for Veterans Day.
AJ Hawk, sports analyst and former linebacker for the Green Bay Packers, asked Trump which NFL coach might make a great president.
While Trump answer the question directly, he referenced Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni, saying “He’s some coach…He’s great.”
“Some of these coaches would make great warring generals,” Trump explained, adding, “It’s all about strategy.”
“I would not be beneath doing that,” the president continued, saying, “They are tremendous guys, great leaders.”
He also praised retired Alabama Crimson Tide Coach Nick Saban, saying that Saban should play a larger role in shaping college sports policy.
This mention aligns with Trump’s tendency to comment on prominent sports figures, which he did when mentioning great NFL coaches during his appearance on Fox Sunday.
Trump also weighed in on the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) bidding wars, calling them unsustainable. He warned that without spending caps, even the most lucrative programs could “go out of business” and that Olympic-feeder sports might be cut from college budgets.
He also criticized the kickoff in the NFL, saying, “I hate the kickoff in football. I think it’s so terrible. I think it’s so demeaning.”
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump, in interview on The Pat McAfee Show on ESPN: “To me, it’s like a microcosm of life. It really is. You see the winning and the losing and the comebacks and the routes. You see everything. And you see it quickly. You don’t see it. You know, over a lifetime, you see it over two hours. And you watch football, you watch games that are won, and all of a sudden they’re fighting for survival, and they lose the game, or they barely win the game. It’s just that’s what it is. And you know, life is very much like that. You have to fight, and you have to just keep fighting, no matter what, no matter what the circumstance and you’re going to win. And ultimately you got to win, about winning, and you got to keep winning,”
What Happens Next
It is unknown whether Trump plans to make any additional appearances during sports games or sports talk shows.
President Trump’s open invitation for more coaches and legendary sports figures to enter public service or advisory roles may spark further commentary within and beyond the sports community.