Washington — More than 50 former football players and coaches, including several Pro Football Hall of Famers and Super Bowl MVPs, announced their support for Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz on Friday. 2024 US presidential electionThe group represents 25 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and includes 10 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees, two Super Bowl champions and MVPs, former No. 1 overall picks and some of the first black athletes and coaches to break the color barrier.
“Given [Vice President Harris’] “With her integrity, values and demonstrated commitment to justice and equal opportunity, we are confident that as president she will serve the best interests of all Americans,” the athletes and coaches said in a letter obtained exclusively by CBS News.
The letter is signed by Art Shell, the NFL’s first black coach; Leslie Frasier, former Minnesota Vikings coach; James “Shack” Harris, the NFL’s first full-time black starting quarterback; Greg Coleman, the NFL’s first black kicker; and former Super Bowl MVP and Chicago Bears Hall of Famer Richard Dent, who previously played for Tennessee State University.
They join a list of athletes supporting the Harris-Walz Democratic ticket, including NBA star Steph Curry and Hall of Famer Magic Johnson.
The announcement comes on the occasion of National Black Voters Day, an initiative aimed at registering black Americans to vote by November. The initiative is led by Black Entertainment Television, a division of Paramount, which has partnered with 40 civic organizations, including the NAACP and the National Urban League.
The statement follows Harris’ appearance this week before the National Association of Black Journalists in Philadelphia, where she was asked about her standing among black men. A recent poll conducted by the NAACP found that about a quarter of young African-American men under the age of 50 support former President Donald Trump, while about half support Harris.
“I think it’s really important not to assume that black men are available to everyone,” Harris said in the NABJ interview. “I’m working to win the right to vote, I don’t assume that I’m going to get it because I’m black.”
Harris is a Howard University alumna and would become the first HBCU graduate to serve as president if elected. Harris’ campaign has highlighted her ties to HBCUs, citing the Biden-Harris administration’s record investments in historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions.
“As a proud Howard University graduate, I know firsthand that our HBCUs are centers of academic excellence,” Harris said in a White House statement in May. “For generations, these pillars of our communities have played a vital role in building and contributing to America’s leadership at home and abroad.”
The Howard graduate hasn’t been shy about showing her enthusiasm for sports, especially for her alma mater. In December, Harris attended the Celebration Bowl in Atlanta, which featured Howard and Florida A&M University. She also cheered on her fellow Howard Bisons in Des Moines when they reached the first round of the NCAA Tournament last year.
Nikole Killion
