Former Super Bowl champion Rashard Mendenhall sparked controversy on social media with a proposal to replace the annual Pro Bowl with an All-Black vs. All-White bowl. The former Pittsburgh Steelers running back’s post on X went viral, garnering over 15 million views and thousands of reactions.
In his post, Mendenhall expressed frustration with “average white guys” commenting on football and claimed they were not good at the sport. He suggested an All-Black vs. All-White bowl as a replacement for the Pro Bowl, in order to put an end to the criticism he receives from white NFL analysts. Mendenhall also took a swipe at former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, asking how people could separate the win/loss record between head coach Mike Tomlin and Roethlisberger without considering that Tomlin has only coached rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett for one year.
Mendenhall’s proposal was met with strong reactions, with many pointing out that his own fumble in Super Bowl XLV was a key factor in the Steelers’ loss to the Green Bay Packers. Some criticized Mendenhall for being racist and lacking shame.
Until today, the worst thing Rashard Mendenhall ever did was fumble the ball in the Super Bowl and cost the Steelers the Championship.pic.twitter.com/yZwdmaMyRo https://t.co/hpM7SQWoib
β BROπ (@luke_brocks) December 18, 2023
The former running back played for the Steelers from 2008 to 2012 and won a Super Bowl in 2009. However, his drop in the big game has not been forgotten, with many using it to discredit his proposal for an All-Black vs. All-White bowl.
The controversy surrounding Mendenhall’s proposal also brought attention to his previous post, where he defended Tomlin and criticized those who focused on his playoff record without considering the performance of his former quarterback. This post also received mixed reactions, with some agreeing with Mendenhall’s perspective and others calling out his flawed argument.
Where is the sports media outrage over Rashard Mendenhall’s comments about white people in football?@CharlyOnTV pic.twitter.com/OrGp2ZPjs5
β OutKick (@Outkick) December 19, 2023
Mendenhall’s suggestion for an All-Black vs. All-White bowl has been met with backlash and criticism, with many pointing out the potential for further division and controversy if such a game were to be implemented. While Mendenhall may be frustrated with criticism from certain NFL analysts, his proposal does not seem to be a solution that many are willing to support.
