NFL legend Brian Urlacher has thrown his support behind Sophie Cunningham, the Indiana Fever guard who has faced backlash for her stance on transgender athletes in girls' sports. Urlacher, a former Chicago Bears linebacker, praised Cunningham's courage in speaking truth to power, saying, 'She just says what’s true. She says common-sense things, and she gets so much backlash.'
In a recent interview, Urlacher expressed his admiration for Cunningham's unwavering stance, stating, 'Don’t back down. If you say something, stand by it. And she said it. She backed it up. She’s not backing down, no matter how much heat she gets from certain people.' He believes that Cunningham's comments are supported by the majority of the country, stating, 'It’s an 80-20 issue. Eighty percent of the country thinks it’s true. The 20% is crushing her.'
Urlacher also acknowledged the potential risks Cunningham faced by expressing her opinion in a league dominated by liberal and LGBTQ+ players. He said, 'It’s a liberal and mostly gay league, which is fine. I have no problem. My daughter is gay. No problem. I’ve got no problem with that... But man, what do you do, right? She said what she said. I cannot disagree with her.'
Cunningham's comments have sparked a wave of support, including from Republican lawmakers and women's sports advocates. She stated, 'I'll always believe in that. It's really important to protect children, and that's little girls who are also involved in that category.' Despite her political neutrality, Cunningham emphasized her commitment to her beliefs and morals, saying, 'I'm not a very political person, but I do have beliefs. I have morals, and I'll always stand on those.'
Urlacher's endorsement of Cunningham highlights the growing divide between traditional and progressive values in sports, and the challenges faced by athletes who speak out on controversial issues. His support for Cunningham's stance on transgender athletes in girls' sports is a testament to the importance of protecting women's sports and the rights of young girls to compete fairly.
