NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
Former NFL star Boomer Esiason said Tuesday that U.S. Olympic athletes “should just shut up,” as several competitors drew backlash for speaking out on hotly debated political topics in the United States while in Italy.
Esiason was on his daily WFAN radio show with Greg Giannotti. The former Cincinnati Bengals and New York Jets star said he was watching the U.S. figure skating team win gold in an event this weekend. Giannotti asked if they were “happy to represent America.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club
Boomer Esiason speaks on stage at the 2019 New York City Police Foundation Gala at the New York Hilton Midtown on April 30, 2019 in New York City. (Owen Hoffmann/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
“They seem happy to represent America,” Esiason said. “That’s not the case for everyone, but everyone should just calm down, play their sport, play for our country, respect the flag and respect everything that’s going on.”
American skiers Hunter Hess and Chris Lillis sparked controversy this weekend with their comments.
Hess said he had “mixed emotions” about competing for Team USA.
“It brings mixed emotions representing the United States right now, I think. It’s a little tough. There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren’t,” Hess said.
Hunter Hess of the United States reacts during the men’s ski halfpipe final at the Toyota Grand Prix of the United States at Aspen Snowmass Ski Resort on January 9, 2026 in Aspen, Colorado. (Dustin Satloff/American Ski and Snowboard/Getty Images)
US AIR FORCE OLYMPIAN JASMINE JONES EXPRESSES GRATITUDE WHILE REPRESENTING AMERICA AT WINTER GAMES
“I think for me it’s more about representing my friends and family back home, the people who represented them before me, everything that I believe is good about the United States. If it aligns with my moral values, I feel like I’m representing them. Just because I’m carrying the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the United States.
“I just want to do it for my friends, my family and the people who support me to get here.”
Hess backtracked in a social media post Monday after President Donald Trump called him a “real loser.”
Lillis said that while he “would never want” to represent another country at the Games, he is “heartbroken” by the administration’s actions regarding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Minnesota.
“I love the United States. I would never want to represent another country in the Olympics. That being said, athletes are often hesitant to talk about their political views and how we feel about things.
Bronze medalist Christopher Lillis poses on the podium during the men’s aerials awards ceremony at the 2024-25 FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup at Beidahu Ski Resort, Jilin city, Jilin province, China. This happened on February 23, 2025. (Yan Linyun/Xinhua via Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PK Press Club APP
“I’m heartbroken by what’s happening in the United States. I’m pretty sure you’re referring to ICE and some of the protests and things like that,” he continued. “I think as a country we need to focus on respecting everyone’s rights and making sure that we treat our citizens, as well as everyone else, with love and respect. I hope that when people watch the athletes compete in the Olympics, they realize that this is the America we are trying to represent.”
