Former Pittsburgh Steelers line up on opposite sides in the Trump-Harris showdown

In the battleground of Pennsylvania, both the Trump and Harris campaigns are leveraging the popularity of former Pittsburgh Steelers players to boost their messaging and appeal to voters. Harris has the backing of iconic Steelers like “Mean” Joe Greene and Jerome Bettis, while Trump has gained support from renegades like Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell. The Steelers are a cultural touchstone for the region, making these endorsements significant. The contrasting messages from these players highlight the stark differences between the two campaigns. Brown’s support for Trump has stirred controversy, given his legal troubles and erratic behavior, but the Trump campaign sees it as a sign of changing social norms in supporting the former president. Former Pittsburgh Steelers player Antonio Brown has been involved in controversies, including settling lawsuits for sexual assault and endangering a child. Despite this, he recently endorsed President Trump, with some saying it shows Trump’s ability to attract nontraditional voters. Some voters in Pennsylvania expressed support for Brown’s endorsement, stating that they were already Trump supporters. Others, like Dok Harris, son of Franco Harris, who supports Joe Biden, appreciate the Steelers players for getting involved in politics but don’t necessarily agree with their choices. The mix of football and politics in Pittsburgh is not new, with past players like Franco Harris and Lynn Swann being politically active. Some believe that Harris’ supporters have deeper ties to the Pittsburgh community compared to Trump’s supporters like Brown and Leveon Bell.