Jim Harbaugh defended Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross over the backlash the owner faced earlier this month.
Ross received heavy backlash on social media — with opponents threatening boycotts of his companies — when it was revealed he was hosting a fundraiser for Donald Trump at his New York home. The matter received extra attention in the sports arena when Dolphins wide receiver Kenny Stills called out Ross, openly questioning his boss.
Ross is a Michigan alum and the biggest donor to the school. He donated $100 million to the athletic department in 2013.
On his “Attack Each Day” podcast episode that was published on Tuesday, Harbaugh talked about the backlash Ross received and also the backlash he received simply for congratulating Ross for receiving an honor.
Congrats to a Great Michigan Man! Stephen Ross to be Inducted into the NFF Leadership Hall of Fame https://t.co/TqCaCwqX0C
— Coach Harbaugh (@CoachJim4UM) August 8, 2019
“I mean, so much Stephen Ross has done for so many across so many platforms. Now, he’s just getting bashed.
“I even tweeted out ‘Congratulations’ for being inducted into the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame and I was getting backlash over that, over congratulating him for that,” Harbaugh said on the podcast, via MLive.com.
Harbaugh has worked both sides politically. He has invited the Obamas to be honorary captains at a Michigan football game in 2017. He has commented on Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling and later wrote the Time 100 bio for his former quarterback. He is also defending Ross despite the owner’s support of Trump.
Harbaugh believes “zealots” on both sides standing in the way of unity, which he seeks.
“We’ve got politicians that don’t seem like they can please anybody. Right now, a house divided can’t stand. There’s zealots on both sides, no matter what. If it could be run like a football team and we all pulled together for each other, for the team, I think that would please everybody.”
