Pro Football Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins said he never authorized the Department of Homeland Security to use his name or game highlights in a recent social media post. The DHS shared a clip of Dawkins’ highlights on Sunday with the caption “Our time has come,” tying it to reports of a migrant caravan moving toward the southern border; the agency also said it is actively monitoring a group that left Honduras and is “playing lockdown defense” at the border.
Dawkins posted a response on Monday to make clear he had no role in the post, asserting that no one had his permission to use his likeness. The NFL asked the government to remove the clip, spokesman Brian McCarthy told The Associated Press, but DHS general counsel James Percival rejected the request on social media, replying with a Bugs Bunny meme.
Dawkins spent 16 seasons in the NFL, primarily with the Philadelphia Eagles after they drafted him in the second round in 1996. A nine-time Pro Bowler, he finished his career with 1,147 tackles and 37 interceptions, retired in 2011 following three seasons with the Denver Broncos, and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.
Fan take: This matters to NFL fans because it highlights how players’ images can be co-opted in political or government messaging without consent, creating reputational and legal issues that reflect back on the league. Expect increased scrutiny from the NFL and players’ representatives about protecting likeness rights and distancing the sport from divisive public-policy debates.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
