A former NFL player said on Facebook that he believes women “don’t know football” and are “incapable” of knowing the game.
John Moffitt, a former offensive guard for the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos, wrote his post in defense of Cam Newton, quarterback for the Carolina Panthers. Newton was forced to issue an apology last week after showing surprise that a female reporter asked a question about receiver routes during a media conference.
“Women don't know football — most guys barely do. Stop coming into male spaces and demanding respect...” Moffitt wrote. “Just because networks like a sexy sideline reporter for you to look at doesn't mean Cam is sexist for questioning the authenticity of her game knowledge — he was laughing because she was fed that question like most of her kind are.”
Moffitt’s comments come just months after Katie Sowers became the second woman in as many years to earn a full-time coaching job, and weeks after sportscaster Beth Mowins became the first woman in 30 years to do play-by-play for an NFL game.
Moffitt played collegiate football at Wisconsin and was selected in the third round of the 2011 Draft by the Seahawks. He played in 17 games over two seasons with Seattle before he was traded to Denver, where he played two games before retiring mid-season.
Read Moffitt’s full comments below.
Alex Hider is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @alexhider.
