Detroit Lions Linebacker Alex Anzalone Calls for Boycott of NFL Pride Night, Says “Football Should Continue to Be Unwoke”

Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone has stirred controversy across the sports world after publicly calling for a boycott of the NFL’s Pride Night initiative, arguing that football should remain “unwoke” and free from what he views as political or ideological messaging. His remarks have sparked both backlash and support, igniting a wider conversation about inclusivity, tradition, and the role professional sports play in contemporary social issues.

Anzalone, who has been with the Lions since 2021 and has emerged as a respected veteran presence on the team’s defense, made his comments during a podcast appearance earlier this week. Speaking on the subject of the NFL’s plans to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month with league-wide events and themed game nights, the linebacker did not hold back.

“I’m not here to play politics. I’m here to play football,” Anzalone said. “The NFL is trying too hard to push this woke agenda on fans who just want to enjoy the game. Pride Night is just another way they’re trying to tell us what to think. I think it’s time fans stand up and say enough is enough. Boycott it. Let football be football.”

The term “woke,” once used positively to signify social awareness, has in recent years been co-opted by critics who use it to label progressive political and cultural movements they oppose. Anzalone’s choice to invoke it, particularly in the context of an inclusion initiative like Pride Night, has placed him squarely in the middle of a polarizing national dialogue.

His comments immediately sparked widespread reaction. LGBTQ+ advocacy groups condemned his remarks as exclusionary and harmful, with many pointing out that the NFL has long struggled with inclusivity and representation. “Alex Anzalone’s words are a reminder of why initiatives like Pride Night are so important,” said a spokesperson for Athlete Ally, a nonprofit that advocates for LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports. “Pride is not about politics—it’s about making everyone feel welcome in an arena that has historically excluded them.”

Anzalone, however, stood firm. In a follow-up social media post, he elaborated on his position, stating that he respects everyone’s right to live how they choose but doesn’t believe those choices should be celebrated or promoted within the context of professional football.

“Look, I have nothing against anyone,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “But when the league makes a show of these causes, it creates division where there doesn’t need to be any. Celebrate football, not lifestyles. I’m just saying what a lot of players and fans are thinking but afraid to say.”

Reactions among NFL players have been mixed. Some, such as Miami Dolphins wide receiver Braxton Berrios, supported Anzalone’s right to speak out, even if they disagreed with the substance of his message. “It’s a free country. He’s got his opinion, and I have mine. I think Pride Night is great—it brings people together. But I won’t knock someone for having the courage to speak their mind,” Berrios said.

Others were more critical. Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby said that initiatives like Pride Night send a powerful message of inclusivity. “I have teammates, fans, and friends who are part of the LGBTQ+ community. When they see the NFL recognizing them, it means a lot. That doesn’t make the league ‘woke.’ It makes it human.”

Perhaps most notable was the silence from the Detroit Lions organization itself. As of Thursday morning, the team had not released an official statement addressing Anzalone’s comments. Head coach Dan Campbell was asked about the issue during a press conference but declined to weigh in, saying only, “We’re focused on football. That’s all I’m going to say about that.”

Behind the scenes, however, sources suggest the team is attempting to walk a fine line—supporting its player while also recognizing the potential PR fallout and the values of its broader fan base. “They know Alex is a leader in the locker room,” one team insider said. “But they also know that in 2025, silence on these issues can be taken as complicity.”

Anzalone’s stance comes at a time when the NFL, like many major sports leagues, is grappling with its identity in a rapidly changing cultural landscape. Over the last decade, the league has attempted to become more inclusive, embracing causes such as racial justice, mental health awareness, and LGBTQ+ rights. These efforts have included end zone messages, helmet decals, and designated game nights like Pride Night.

Critics argue that these initiatives politicize a sport that should be apolitical. Supporters argue that sports, by their very nature, reflect society—and that using the platform to advocate for equity and inclusion is both moral and overdue.

The broader context of Anzalone’s comments is important. The NFL has historically lagged behind other leagues in LGBTQ+ inclusion. While the NBA and MLB have seen numerous active and retired players come out publicly, the NFL still has very few openly gay current or former players. When Carl Nassib, then with the Las Vegas Raiders, came out in 2021, he was the first active player in league history to do so. The support he received from teammates and the league was notable, but it also highlighted how rare such visibility remains in football.

By calling for a boycott of Pride Night, Anzalone is arguably pushing back against one of the NFL’s most visible efforts to broaden its embrace of diversity. And his words carry weight—not just because of his position as a team leader, but because they echo sentiments shared by segments of the fan base who have bristled at the league’s progressive overtures.

On sports talk radio, social media, and fan forums, the debate has exploded. “I’m with Anzalone. I’m tired of the league lecturing me,” one fan wrote on a Detroit Lions Reddit thread. “Just play football.” Another countered, “He doesn’t speak for me. Pride Night is about inclusion and visibility. Football is for everyone, not just people who look and think like him.”

It’s a culture clash that mirrors larger divisions in American society—between those who see diversity and visibility as essential progress and those who see it as unnecessary or even threatening.

Media coverage of the incident has been intense. Conservative outlets have largely framed Anzalone as a hero taking a stand for traditional values and free speech, while progressive publications have described his comments as harmful, regressive, and emblematic of the challenges marginalized groups continue to face in professional sports.

Interestingly, Anzalone has not shied away from political commentary in the past. A devout Christian and vocal advocate for military families, he previously criticized the NFL’s handling of COVID-19 protocols and has shared opinions on faith, patriotism, and what he sees as the moral erosion of society. Still, his call for an outright boycott of a league-sponsored initiative is his most controversial move to date.

In the days ahead, it remains to be seen whether the NFL or the Lions will issue any formal response. League commissioner Roger Goodell has in the past expressed support for the LGBTQ+ community and was instrumental in launching Pride initiatives in 2021. Whether that support will be reaffirmed in light of Anzalone’s remarks could serve as a bellwether for the NFL’s ongoing balancing act between tradition and transformation.

Meanwhile, fans, players, and analysts are left grappling with the implications of Anzalone’s statement. Is it simply an expression of personal belief, or does it represent a broader resistance within the sport to inclusion efforts? Will other players follow his lead—or publicly reject it?

One thing is certain: the conversation is far from over. As Pride Month unfolds and the NFL’s promotional efforts continue, the league will likely face increased scrutiny over how it handles internal dissent and how it communicates its values. For Alex Anzalone, the issue seems clear—football should be about the game, and nothing else. For many others, however, the game is at its best when it welcomes all who love it, regardless of who they are or who they love.

In a sport that thrives on teamwork, unity, and shared goals, the divide over Pride Night may ultimately challenge the NFL to decide not just who it entertains, but who it represents.