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Former NFL star Boomer Esiason said Tuesday that U.S. Olympic athletes “should just shut up” as several competitors sparked backlash for speaking out on hotly debated political issues in the United States while in Italy.
Esiason was on his daily WFAN Radio show with Greg Giannotti. The former Cincinnati Bengals and New York Jets star said he was watching the US figure skating team win gold at an event over the weekend. Giannotti asked if they were “happy to represent the United States.”
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Boomer Esiason speaks on stage during the 2019 New York City Police Foundation Gala at the New York Hilton Midtown on April 30, 2019 in New York City. (Owen Hoffmann/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
“They seem happy to represent the United States,” Esiason said. “Not everyone is, but everyone should shut up and play their sport and play for our country and respect the flag and respect everything that’s going on.”
American skiers Hunter Hess and Chris Lillis sparked controversy over the weekend with their comments.
Hess said he had “mixed emotions” about competing for Team USA.
“I think it brings mixed emotions to represent America right now. It’s a little difficult. There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not a big fan of, and I think a lot of people aren’t,” Hess said.
Hunter Hess of the United States reacts during the Men’s Ski Halfpipe Final at the Toyota Grand Prix of the United States at Aspen Snowmass Ski Resort on January 9, 2026 in Aspen, Colorado. (Dustin Satloff/US Ski & Snowboard/Getty Images)
US AIR FORCE OLYMPIAN JASMINE JONES EXPRESSES GRATITUDE WHILE REPRESENTING THE UNITED STATES AT THE WINTER GAMES
“I think, for me, the important thing is to represent my friends and family in my country, the people who represented it before me, all the things that I think are good about America. If it aligns with my moral values, I feel like I’m representing it. Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s happening in America.
“I just want to do it for my friends, my family and the people who support me to get here.”
Hess backtracked in a social media post Monday after President Donald Trump called him a “real loser.”
Lillis said that while he would “never” want to represent another country at the Games, he is “heartbroken” by the administration’s actions regarding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Minnesota.
“I love the United States. I would never want to represent a different country in the Olympics. That being said, many times athletes are hesitant to talk about political views and how we feel about things.
Bronze medalist Christopher Lillis poses on the podium during the men’s aerials awards ceremony at the 2024-25 FIS Freestyle Skiing World Cup at Beidahu Ski Resort in Jilin City, Jilin Province, China. It happened on February 23, 2025. (Yan Linyun/Xinhua via Getty Images)
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“I feel heartbroken about what’s happening in America. I’m pretty sure you’re referencing ICE and some of the protests and stuff like that,” he continued. “I think as a country we need to focus on respecting everyone’s rights and making sure we treat our citizens as well as anyone, with love and respect. I hope that when people see athletes compete in the Olympics, they realize that’s the America we’re trying to represent.”
