NFL Hall-of-Famer Backs Sophie Cunningham’s Stance on Transgender Athletes

Pro Football Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher is backing Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham after her comments opposing transgender-identifying athletes in women’s sports drew backlash. 

The former Chicago Bears linebacker discussed Cunningham during an interview with Fox News Digital published Wednesday.

As the Daily Wire previously reported, Cunningham declared in a recent ESPN interview that female sports should be protected and biological males should not be allowed in these female-only spaces. When she was pressed about these comments the following day, Cunningham stood by her remarks and said her position won’t change based on others’ negative or positive feedback.

“I follow her on Instagram. She’s got great stuff out here. So she says what’s true. She says common sense things!” Urlacher said.

Urlacher praised Cunningham for not backing down when left-wing activists pushed back on her.

“[Transgender-identifying athletes in women’s sports] is an 80–20 issue. Eighty percent of the country thinks it’s true. The other 20% is crushing her. Let them. Who cares? But I love that she didn’t back down.” Urlacher said. “That’s what I love about when people say things: 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.” 

Urlacher criticized what he described as the league’s left-leaning culture.   

“It’s a liberal and mostly gay league, which is fine. I have no problem. My daughter is gay. No problem,” Urlacher said. “I’ve got no problem with that. But the way they push things on people in the WNBA, it’s why I’m not a big fan of watching their games and supporting it. But man, what do you do, right? She said what she said. I cannot disagree with her.”

Urlacher is the latest prominent figure to publicly defend Cunningham.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) recently posted on X that Cunningham’s position was “well said,” and former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines said, “If the league was smart, they’d lean in to Sophie. Fans love her & young athletes look up to her!”

Harry Potter author and women’s rights advocate J.K. Rowling also praised Cunningham, posting on X, “Caution didn’t win women the vote, or equal pay, or fair sport, or the right to single-sex spaces. Sophie Cunningham is standing up for women and girls everywhere and it’s glorious. F*ck caution.”

Cunningham’s comments also drew criticism online, with some commentators labeling her “transphobic” and “a MAGA Barbie.”