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Legendary NFL agent Leigh Steinberg, who has represented a record eight first-round draft picks and is the subject of the hit sports movie “Jerry Maguire,” has revealed his opinion on Jaxson Dart’s decision to introduce President Donald Trump at a recent rally.
Steinberg also revealed that he once helped with a coalition called “Athletes for Obama,” but it was canceled before it was even announced, and why.
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New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart greets President Donald Trump during a Fighting For American Workers event in Suffern, New York, on May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy)
In an exclusive interview with Pak Gazette Digital, Steinberg agreed that the recent backlash against Dart from the mainstream media is “overblown.”
“I do it because, again, there’s a long history of athletes endorsing Democratic candidates,” Steinberg said when asked if he thought the reaction was “overblown.”
“Athletes like LeBron James and Stephen Curry have openly supported Democratic candidates, with little comparable backlash.”
Dart’s presence at the Trump rally was limited to the quarterback leading a simple “Go Big Blue!” sings and then introduces Trump with the line: “I am grateful, it is my honor and my pleasure to introduce you to the 45th and 47th president of the United States of America, President Donald J. Trump!”
Dart did not make any political statements at the rally. Steinberg believes that making a political statement is a line that Dart was wise not to cross.
“If he had stood up and given a partisan speech, it would have been a step too far…we like athletes to be accessible to people of all political persuasions,” Steineberg said.
NFL quarterback Jaxson Dart hugs President Donald Trump during a Fighting For American Workers event in Suffern, New York, on May 22, 2026. (Ryan Murphy/AP)
“Traditionally, the president of the United States plays several roles. On the one hand, he is partisan, and on the other, he is apolitical, he is the representative of our country. If the president is non-partisan in this case, then it is particularly appropriate to introduce him.”
Steinberg only cared about Dart at one point during the event where Trump was speaking, and he invoked Dart in a passage that seemed related to the issue of trans athletes in women’s sports.
Trump asked Dart how she would fare competing against women, before saying “this is not a good thing for women” during the speech.
“The president obviously talked about transgender issues, and that’s another particularly polarizing issue,” Steinberg said. “I wouldn’t want Jaxson Dart to be in the middle of a controversy over transgender athletes.”
Ultimately, from a business perspective, Steinberg believes Dart’s introduction of the president may be advantageous to the quarterback’s brand and marketing potential.
“You’re making friends, making contacts, meeting business people who do a variety of things,” Steinberg said.
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President Donald Trump shakes hands with New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart as he arrives to speak at Rockland Community College in Suffern, New York, on May 22, 2026. (Alex Brandon/AP)
“There are endorsements that may arise because of the high profile. There are many people who endorsed the president who owned businesses that he could have equity in, own or support.
“And public speaking is always the skill and the ability to connect with the crowd, so there are many ways you can help him.”
‘Athletes for Obama’
Steinberg said that in 2008, as an NFL super agent, he was helping organize an interest group called “Athletes for Obama.”
However, after Obama’s Republican opponent, the late John McCain, began using campaign tactics to portray Obama as a “celebrity” candidate, the interest group was canceled, according to Steinberg.
“They never announced the organization because it came at a time when McCain was still emphasizing that he was a ‘celebrity,'” Steinberg said. “They never announced it because McCain made it a big political issue that he was a ‘celebrity’ candidate, who wasn’t serious about those things.”
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However, Steinberg said each of the athletes who originally pledged to “Athletes for Obama” ended up endorsing Obama individually anyway.
“There were a lot of athletes who endorsed Obama when he ran for president. Of course, he was the perfect athletic candidate, because he was black, he was young and he was athletic himself,” Steinberg said.
