Former Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall Shares Repulsive And Racist Sentiment To Social Media

The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently facing a challenging period, marked by a series of disheartening losses in December that have dashed their hopes of making the playoffs. However, it's not just on the field where the team is facing controversy, as former Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall recently posted a racially charged remark on his X (formally known as Twitter) account.

In a shocking post on Monday morning, Mendenhall expressed disdain for white football players, making a sweeping and derogatory statement. 

"I’m sick of average white guys commenting on football. Y’all not even good at football. Can we please replace the Pro Bowl with an All-Black vs. All-White bowl so these cats can stop trying to teach me who’s good at football. I’m better than ur goat."

Mendenhall's comment not only belittled white football players, but also advocated for a divisive separation of players based on race by suggesting an "All-Black vs. All-White bowl." 

Steelers Brother Responds

TJ Watt's brother, JJ Watt, a prominent former NFL player himself, quoted Mendenhall's social media post. He responded to the post by acknowledging the limitations of an all-white team, particularly at the cornerback position, and humorously admitted that nobody on their squad could effectively cover a speedster like Tyreek Hill.

“We’d get cooked at corner, not gonna lie. Nobody on our squad is covering Tyreek.”

This isn't the first time Mendenhall has caused a stir with his remarks on social media. In 2019, he publicly accused former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger of being racist and claimed that wide receiver Antonio Brown had to catch passes from a racist quarterback. His comments drew significant attention and controversy within the football community.

“Alright, I’ll end the mystery... B’s racist and @AB84’s black. He had to catch balls from a racist quarterback. Every honest player knows it, it’s not a big deal. He was just supposed to take his lickings and move on, like a slave for real.”

Mendenhall's 2011 social media post about Osama bin Laden's death and the 9/11 terror attacks is perhaps his most notorious controversy. In that post, he questioned celebrating someone's death and expressed skepticism about bin Laden's involvement in the 9/11 attacks. His comments generated outrage and led to the loss of endorsement deals.

"What kind of person celebrates death," he wrote. "It's amazing how people can HATE a man they have never even heard speak. We've only heard one side… I'm not convinced he was even behind the attacks we have really seen no evidence to prove it other than the [government] telling us.”

Following the backlash from his insensitive tweets about bin Laden, Mendenhall later issued an apology. 

Mendenhall's controversial statements serve as a reminder that even former athletes can wield significant influence through their words and actions on social media. In a time when racial sensitivity and inclusivity are crucial topics, such remarks can have far-reaching consequences, both personally and professionally.

Steelers writer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Christopher Carter shared his thoughts about Mendenhall's social media post.

"I said it years ago, Rashard Mendenhall needs mental help, and a lot of it. Dude has been a head case for a while. Bigotry like that deserves no grace."

The Steelers are facing adversity both on and off the field, with former player Mendenhall's racially charged remarks drawing widespread criticism. While the team strives to find its footing in the remaining games of the season, Mendenhall's comments serve as a stark reminder of the importance of responsible and respectful discourse in the world of sports.

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