NFL Team Responds to ‘Kamala’ Ad Controversy

If you're an American feeling a bit weary of political advertisements, you're certainly not alone.

Just ask one of the NFL's top franchises, the Philadelphia Eagles.

Indeed, Americans who are growing tired of non-stop commercials promoting how fantastic (or terrible) both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are—the leading figures of the Democratic and Republican parties, respectively—have something in common with a major NFL team.

However, in this scenario, the Eagles seem to have a valid issue with just one of those candidates, and it’s not the GOP’s representative.

Over the Labor Day weekend, viral images began to spread, featuring a caricature of Harris wearing an Eagles helmet with the text, "Kamala official candidate of the Philadelphia Eagles."

These images understandably caused quite a commotion, as NFL teams usually steer clear of political endorsements, even though individual employees, executives, and owners may support any political figure they choose.

(It sparked particular outrage on social media among Eagles fans, which isn’t surprising given Harris’s divisive reputation.)

In fact, the situation became so problematic that the Eagles had to officially address the viral images.

"We are aware counterfeit political ads are being circulated and are working with our advertising partner to have them removed," the team stated bluntly in a Monday X post.

WCAU also reported on the existence of these "counterfeit political ads."

For Harris, this is just the latest in a series of challenges following a heavily criticized interview she gave with CNN on Thursday.

In fairness to her, this incident may not be her fault at all, but given Harris's history of attracting celebrity endorsements, it's understandable why some might believe the ads were genuine.

For the Eagles, however, this is a more significant problem.

Just eight years ago, in 2016, the NFL was rocked by a wave of national anthem protests, led by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, which also impacted its viewership.

Since then, the NFL has mostly stayed clear of political controversies to avoid a similar backlash to the anthem protests.

Although the Eagles have distanced themselves from these "counterfeit" ads, even the mere appearance of political involvement can leave a lasting impression in viral social media posts, and that's the last thing the Eagles need.

Compounding the team’s frustration, they are just days away from a highly anticipated regular season opener, where they will host the rising Green Bay Packers in a rare Friday night game on September 6.

Dealing with "counterfeit political ads" about Kamala Harris is probably the last thing they want on their plate.