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 in the US Presidential Election 2024The 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.
“Datum [Vice President Harris’] “With our integrity, values and proven commitment to fairness and equal opportunity, we trust 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 was signed by Art Shell, the NFL’s first black coach, Leslie Frasier, former coach of the Minnesota Vikings, James “Shack” Harris, the NFL’s first black full-time starting quarterback, Greg Coleman, the NFL’s first black punter, and former Super Bowl MVP and Chicago Bears Hall of Famer Richard Dent, who previously played for Tennessee State University.
They join a group of athletes supporting Harris-Walz’s Democratic ticket, including NBA star Steph Curry and Hall of Famer Magic Johnson.
The announcement comes on the heels of National Black Voter Day, an initiative aimed at getting Black Americans registered to vote ahead of November. The initiative is being led by Black Entertainment Television, a division of Paramount, which has partnered with 40 community organizations including the NAACP and the National Urban League.
It also 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 50 support former President Donald Trump, while about half back Harris.
“I think it’s really important not to operate under the assumption that black men are in somebody’s pocket,” Harris said during the NABJ interview. “I’m working to earn the right to vote, not assuming 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 run for president if elected. Harris’ campaign has touted her HBCU ties, citing the Biden-Harris administration’s record investments in historically black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions.
“As a proud graduate of Howard University, I know firsthand that our HBCUs are centers of academic excellence,” Harris said in a statement from the White House in May. “For generations, these anchors of our communities have played a critical role in building and contributing to America’s leadership at home and abroad.”
The Howard graduate isn’t shy about showing her sports enthusiasm, 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 as they reached the first round of the NCAA Tournament last year.
Nikole Killion
