San Francisco 49ers standout Nick Bosa turned heads Sunday night with a bold political statement. During NBC’s post-game interview with teammates George Kittle, Brock Purdy, and Isaac Guerendo, Bosa made a brief appearance sporting a white “Make America Great Again” hat with gold lettering—a nod of support for former President Donald Trump in the upcoming election. NBC reporter Melissa Stark couldn’t help but note, “All right, Nick Bosa with a message there,” as he exited after flashing the hat.
Video:

Later, Bosa swapped out the MAGA cap for a more neutral “RESID3NCY San Francisco” hat when he met with Bay Area reporters, but that didn’t stop them from asking about his earlier display. When asked why he chose that moment to show his political support, Bosa, who’s often been reserved in discussing his views, explained, “I think it’s an important time,” without elaborating much further.
Video:
Bosa’s restrained approach to his political stance marks a shift from his early NFL days when he reportedly deleted pro-Trump tweets in 2019 after being drafted by the 49ers. At the time, he mentioned he “had to” erase the tweets given the likelihood of ending up with a team based in the politically liberal San Francisco Bay Area. The 49ers selected him second overall in that draft, and since then, Bosa has largely focused on his game rather than politics.

When asked if he felt more comfortable sharing his views publicly now, Bosa smiled, “It’s definitely a little easier nowadays.” With the 49ers heading into a bye week, it remains to be seen if Bosa’s bold MAGA appearance will fuel further conversation as election season intensifies.