Former NFL Player Critiques Minnesota AG Amid Legal Battle Over Transgender Athletes in Sports

Former NFL Player Critiques Minnesota AG Amid Legal Battle Over Transgender Athletes in Sports

Former Minnesota Vikings and University of Minnesota football player Jack Brewer has expressed his discontent towards Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. This comes as the state engages in a legal dispute against President Donald Trump and the Department of Justice. The aim is to secure the right for transgender athletes to compete in girls sports, a topic that has stirred significant debate in Minnesota.

The core of this controversy lies in Trump’s executive order, which emphasizes the protection of girls sports by limiting participation to biological females. The ongoing situation has escalated with reports of a transgender pitcher dominating a girls softball season, raising questions about fairness and competition.

“Clearly, Keith Ellison, the attorney general of Minnesota, has never played any major sports,” Brewer stated in an interview with Fox News Digital. This pointed critique hints at Brewer’s belief that Ellison lacks firsthand understanding of the physical demands and competitive nature of sports.

He continued, “It’s like he’s never stepped foot in a real locker room, especially not one where true athleticism, grit, and toughness are required. It’s disheartening to see a Black man stand before the nation promoting an agenda that pits boys against girls.”

In response to the lawsuit, the White House condemned Ellison’s actions, branding them as inappropriate and damaging to women’s sports. White House spokesperson Harrison Fields expressed, “Why would a grown man sue the Trump administration to allow biological males to participate in women’s sports? This is creepy and anti-woman.”

Brewer, who enjoyed a commendable four-season tenure with the Golden Gophers from 1998 to 2001 before transitioning to the NFL in 2002, now voices deep concern over the implications of these legal battles. He has raised his children in Minnesota, further amplifying his emotional investment in the state’s athletic policies.

“The state has veered so far off course that it’s doing the opposite of what it once stood for. It used to be a leader in Title IX and women’s rights,” Brewer declared. “Now, it’s inadvertently undermining women’s sports and creating scenarios where biological males are physically dominating female athletes.”

Reports have surfaced of a transgender softball pitcher winning 14 consecutive games and earning first-team All-State honors as the playoffs approached. Brewer finds this situation distressing both as a lifelong Minnesota resident and a former professional athlete.

“In any sport — particularly softball — the risk of injury increases significantly. A biological male can hit harder and throw faster than a biological female,” Brewer reasoned. He dismisses the idea of allowing biological males to participate in women’s softball, stating that this sport has gained visibility and importance.

“Women’s softball is one of America’s fastest-growing sports. If every high school varsity baseball player decided to switch over to Division I women’s softball, there might not be any women left on the field,” he stated. Brewer believes that supporting such policies reflects either ignorance or a prioritization of political agendas over the well-being of female athletes.

“That’s exactly what Keith Ellison is doing,” Brewer added. “They seem more focused on fundraising and maintaining power than genuinely caring about the impact on young female athletes nationwide.” He noted that President Trump has a clear grasp of the situation, quoting him: “If you put a bunch of MLB players on a women’s softball team, they’d win the championship.”

Ellison announced the lawsuit during a press conference, which came after persistent defiance from the state against Trump’s executive order aimed at keeping men out of women’s sports. Ellison claimed that he was notified by the Department of Justice that legal action would ensue if Minnesota did not comply with this order.

“I will not sit idly by while the Trump administration threatens Minnesota with litigation. Today, Minnesota is suing him because we refuse to cater to such bullying,” Ellison announced, expressing determination to protect transgender children seeking to participate in sports.

Ellison’s lawsuit asserts that the Trump administration is overstepping boundaries by trying to dictate state policies regarding athletic gender eligibility through an executive order. He argues that states should have the autonomy to govern their own sports policies without federal intervention.

Minnesota has become the first state to challenge the Department of Justice over the issue of funding cuts tied to the inclusion of trans athletes in girls sports. It follows Maine, which filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration after funding cuts emerged from the Department of Agriculture.

Following Trump’s executive order, the Minnesota State High School League stated its intent to allow transgender athletes to continue competing in women’s sports, defying federal law. Ellison’s office clarified that preventing transgender athletes from participating violates the Minnesota Human Rights Act.

The state legislature recently failed to pass the Preserving Girls’ Sports Act, which sought to restrict girls sports to only biological females. According to a New York Times/Ipsos survey, a significant majority of Americans oppose allowing transgender athletes in women’s sports. The survey found that 79% of respondents believe biological males identifying as women should be barred from women’s sports, with 67% of Democratic participants sharing this sentiment.

Reflecting on the Future of Women’s Sports

This ongoing debate raises critical questions about the future of women’s sports in America. Stakeholders from various sectors, including parents, athletes, and policymakers must consider the implications of these legal decisions on fair competition and inclusivity. As advocates on both sides of the issue continue to voice their opinions, the resolution of this legal battle will undoubtedly affect countless young athletes across the nation.