In a scathing first-person account, former Vikings punter Chris Kluwe contends his public support of gay marriage cost him his job and accuses Minnesota special teams coach Mike Priefer of ugly homophobic behavior.
The article, posted on Deadspin, is titled: “I was an NFL Player Until I was Fired by Two Cowards and a Bigot.” Priefer is labeled the “bigot” and former Vikings coach Leslie Frazier and current general manager Rick Spielman the “cowards.”
Kluwe, who was released by the Vikings in May, said his relationship with Priefer began to deteriorate after Kluwe voiced his support of gay marriage rights early in the 2012 season. Kluwe alleges Priefer would use homophobic language in his presence frequently.
“He would ask me if I had written any letters defending ‘the gays’ recently and denounce as disgusting the idea that two men would kiss, and he would constantly belittle or demean any idea of acceptance or tolerance,” Kluwe wrote.
One incident, in particular, stands out.
“As [my teammates and I] sat down in our chairs, Mike Priefer, in one of the meanest voices I can ever recall hearing, said: ‘We should round up all the gays, send them to an island, and then nuke it until it glows,’ ” Kluwe recalled.
In a meeting with Frazier in September 2012, the coach told Kluwe he “needed to be quiet, and stop speaking out on this stuff,” referring to his views on gay marriage, according to Kluwe. Later that month, Klewe said he found out through Twitter several media outlets had unsuccessfully tried to reach him through the Vikings. Kluwe said he approached the Vikings’ head of public relations, Bob Hagan.
“He told me that he was trying to protect me from being overwhelmed,” Kluwe wrote.
In a statement to Minnesota’s KFAN, Priefer strenuously denied the allegations.
“I vehemently deny today’s allegations made by Chris Kluwe.
“I want to be clear that I do not tolerate discrimination of any type and am respectful of all individuals. I personally have gay family members who I love and support just as I do any family member.
“The primary reason I entered coaching was to affect people in a positive way. As a coach, I have always created an accepting environment for my players, including Chris, and have looked to support them both on and off the field.”
Kluwe underwent minor left knee surgery following the 2012 season, after playing with a torn meniscus for five years. Yet between the early January surgery and his arrival at OTAs in late April, Kluwe says he wasn’t contacted by Frazier or any of the other Vikings coaches. He wrote Spielman called him once, to ask him to stop tweeting about Pope Benedict XVI’s decision to step down. He was released May 6 after eight seasons in Minnesota.
The Vikings released a statement on Thursday afternoon, saying they would investigate Kluwe’s accusations.
“The Minnesota Vikings were made aware of Chris Kluwe’s allegations for the first time today,” the statement read. “We take them very seriously and will thoroughly review this matter.
“As an organization, the Vikings consistently strive to create a supportive, respectful and accepting environment for all of our players, coaches and front office personnel. We do not tolerate discrimination at any level. The team has long respected our players’ and associates’ individual rights, and, as Chris specifically stated, Vikings ownership supports and promotes tolerance, including on the subject of marriage equality. Because he was identified with the Vikings, Chris was asked to be respectful while expressing his opinions. Team ownership and management also repeatedly emphasized to Chris that the Vikings would not impinge on his right to express his views.
“Any notion that Chris was released from our football team due to his stance on marriage equality is entirely inaccurate and inconsistent with team policy. Chris was released strictly based on his football performance.
“We will have further comment at the appropriate time.”
Kluwe said he decided to write the article to shed light on his situation and to make sure Priefer, a candidate for the Vikings head coaching position in the wake of Frazier’s dismissal this week, “never holds a coaching position again in the NFL, and ideally never coaches at any level.” He called Frazier and Spielman “cowards” for letting Priefer run him off the team.
He said he waited until the season ended so as to not inconvenience his friends and former teammates who still play for Minnesota.
“It’s inexcusable that someone would use his status as a teacher and a role model to proselytize on behalf of his own doctrine of intolerance, and I hope [Priefer] never gets another opportunity to pass his example along to anyone else,” Kluwe wrote. “I also hope that Leslie Frazier and Rick Spielman take a good look in the mirror and ask themselves if they are the people they truly profess themselves to be.”