Over 50 former football players and coaches, including several Pro Football Hall of Famers and Super Bowl MVPs, publicly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz for the 2024 U.S. presidential election. This group represents 25 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and includes 10 Hall of Fame inductees, two Super Bowl champions, former No. 1 overall picks, and pioneers who made commendable triumphs.
"Given [Vice President Harris'] integrity, values and demonstrated commitment to justice and equality of opportunity, we are confident that as President she will serve the best interests of all Americans," the athletes and coaches said in a letter exclusively obtained by CBS News.
Notable signatories include Art Shell, the NFL's first Black head coach; Leslie Frazier, former Minnesota Vikings coach; James "Shack" Harris, the first Black full-time starting quarterback; Greg Coleman, the first Black punter; and Richard Dent, a Super Bowl MVP and Hall of Famer from Tennessee State University. They join a roster of prominent athletes backing the Harris-Walz ticket, such as NBA superstar Steph Curry and Hall of Famer Magic Johnson.
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National Black Voter DAY
This endorsement coincides with National Black Voter Day, a campaign designed to mobilize Black Americans to register to vote ahead of the November election. The initiative, led by Black Entertainment Television (BET) in partnership with 40 civic organizations, including the NAACP and the National Urban League, aims to amplify voter engagement within the community.
The announcement follows Harris' recent appearance at the National Association of Black Journalists conference in Philadelphia, where she addressed her appeal among Black men. A recent NAACP poll revealed that about half of young African American men under 50 support Harris, while a quarterback former President Donald Trump, highlighting the importance of engaging this demographic in the upcoming election.
This week will also be followed by Harris coming before the National Association of Black Journalists in Philadelphia, where she was asked about her standing among Black men.
"I think it's very important to not operate from the assumption that Black men are in anybody's pocket," Harris said during the NABJ interview. I'm working to earn the vote, not assuming I'm going to have it because I am Black. As a proud graduate of Howard University, I know firsthand that our HBCUs are centers of academic excellence. For generations, these anchors of our communities have played a pivotal role in building and contributing to America's leadership at home and abroad," Harris said in a White House statement in May.
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