Politician's Football Fumble: A Gaming Gaffe Goes Viral

Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota (D) found himself in the middle of a social media storm after a football term he used in a livestream went viral. Walz, who once coached high school football, was playing a video game called Madden with Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) on Twitch. He posted on X, "AOC can run a mean pick 6 — and I can call an audible on a play. " The post has since been deleted. The term "pick 6" is used when a defensive player intercepts the ball and returns it for a touchdown. Walz's use of the term was incorrect, as you don't "run" a pick 6. The post quickly caught the attention of former President Donald Trump's campaign team, who mocked Walz on X. The campaign account, Trump War Room, said, "Tampon Tim is such a dork. You’d think a so-called football coach would be aware that you don’t run a pick 6! " Republican vice presidential candidate, Senator J. D. Vance (R-OH), also chimed in at a campaign rally in Wasau, Wisconsin. He commented on Walz's football knowledge, saying, "You don’t run a pick-six, you run the West Coast offense or the spread offense. " Vance joked that even though Walz was a football coach, he might know more about football than Walz. Journalists and commentators also weighed in on the gaffe. Mark Hemingway quipped, "I’m not sure Kamala ever worked at McDonald’s and now I’m unsure if Walz ever coached football. " David Hookstead from OutKick said, "Everything about this tweet is cringe, embarrassing and stupid. As a young kid can tell you, a coach doesn’t call a pick six. " The incident highlights the potential pitfalls of politicians trying to connect with younger voters through social media and gaming. It also raises questions about the authenticity of Walz's football coaching background.