If I were in charge of running a presidential campaign, and I had my pick of the litter of former professional athletes who could deliver a rally speech in staunch support of my candidate, Antonio Brown might not be my first choice. But hey, different strokes for different folks, and regardless of Brown’s checkered past off the football field, he was still one of the best wide receivers of his generation for the Pittsburgh Steelers once upon a time.
At a rally for Donald Trump in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, AB and his ex-teammate, All-Pro running back Le’Veon Bell, pulled up for the occasion in a scene dripping with irony. I’m not talking politics at all when I say that, folks. I’m talking about the choice to bring Brown and Bell out to the song “Hall of Fame” by The Script.
🚨 NOW: Former Steelers Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown (@AB84) just took the stage at the Trump Rally in LaTrobe near Pittsburgh
The crowd went WILD! 🔥
MAGA = UNITY! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/VakwBDqujj
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) October 19, 2024
Bell played only eight NFL seasons and was great for three of them. That’s not near long enough of a resume to get into Canton. Plus, he sabotaged his own career by sitting out an entire season amid a contract dispute. Was nowhere near the same thereafter. Brown’s production with the Steelers in particular gives him a shot at the Hall, but he’s done everything he can to tarnish his legacy since leaving Pittsburgh. Whether it’s bad behavior toward women, running an arena football franchise into the ground, or myriad other legal issues, business has not been boomin’ for AB, who filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May.
So with all that said, Brown took the podium in Latrobe to gas up former President Trump, wrapping up this clip with a “Fight!” chant that invokes what Trump told the crowd right after surviving an assassination attempt elsewhere in Pennsylvania in July.
Pittsburgh Steelers great Antonio Brown @AB84 rallies support for President Trump in Latrobe, PA pic.twitter.com/tYQgrNyh6P
— RSBN 🇺🇸 (@RSBNetwork) October 19, 2024
AB praised Trump’s ability to overcome adversity “no matter what the media threw at him” among other things. Then of course, as you’re wont to expect with Antonio Brown, the vibe got a little weird when he started talking about MAGA coins.
Trump fans are extremely confused by what Antonio Brown is saying as he talks about "a MAGA coin" pic.twitter.com/LRDlUSunkD
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 19, 2024
Not totally clear if AB is referring to the relatively new MAGA cryptocurrency, or perhaps some collector’s item Trump is selling in addition to watches and other campaign-centric merchandise.
But then AB’s speech turned a little personal. The vague American Dream rhetoric and optimistic tilt as to why Trump will make America great again quickly turned. Brown applied his football acumen to weigh in on the merits of ex-high school football coach and Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz. AB called him “Tampon” Tim Walz while downplaying his coaching background.
.@AB84: “And by the way, Tampon Tim Walz — he isn’t a real football coach. He could never guard me… business will be boomin going against Tim Walz.” pic.twitter.com/Bea93dmgWx
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 19, 2024
Just when you thought this campaign season couldn’t get any more wild.
