Former Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was offended by the jacket that Bills DB Damar Hamlin wore to the Super Bowl.
One of the off-the-field highlights of Super Bowl 57 was seeing a healthy Damar Hamlin embrace the doctors and trainers who helped save his life as they were honored before the game.
Not everyone enjoyed watching that moment apparently.
Adrian Peterson was one of them and it’s not because he was angry about who was being honored or why. Instead, it was because of Hamlin’s chosen wardrobe.
Why is Adrian Peterson mad at Damar Hamlin?
https://twitter.com/mymixtapez/status/1625213169059635219
Peterson posted a photo of Hamlin in his jacket, rebuking him for the depiction of Jesus he wore.
“You should be thanking God son! This is Blasphemy!! We all fall short but cmon man! I find this disrespectful!! #grateful #goddid,” Peterson wrote in a caption which has since been edited.
Fellow NFL running back alum replied with a more measured approach.
“You should DM him bro…I’m sure he’s listen to your opinion. Posting it doesn’t help anyone,” Taylor wrote in a comment. “He’s young, young ppl don’t always think before they wear things just like people who wear skulls and other things that doesn’t align with Christian beliefs. Try to reach him”
Peterson appeared to double down in reply to Taylor.
“But this was different! I know young people don’t think at times,older as well! But with everything surrounding his situation!! This isn’t one of those moments where it’s a young guy not thinking!” Peterson wrote.
Damar Hamlin jacket: Takashi Murakami designed the “Travis Jesus” jacket
Designer Takashi Murakami released the “Travis Jesus” jacket in March of 2022 as one of two stadium jackets in collaboration with Yuta Hosakawa and Cali Thornhill DeWitt‘s ©SAINT M ×××××× label.
Here’s how Hypebeast described the jacket when it was released: “The second ‘Travis Jesus’ jacket in blue, incorporates “SAINT YOUTH” patches stitched on the sleeves, crucifixion motifs on the back, Murakami-style Jesus artwork on the left chest, and ‘Without End or Beginning There is no Day and no Night’ quote on the right.”
The jacket retailed at $3,618 upon release.
Adrian Peterson and Damar Hamlin spoke about Super Bowl jacket
Peterson didn’t care for the way crucifixion iconography was used in the design, but after a conversation with Hamlin, he calmed down a bit.
On Instagram, he changed the caption of his original post to this:
“So I spoke with @d.ham3 Damar, and we were able to discuss our thoughts as men. I want to be clear, I’m the last person to judge anyone, and that was never my intention. However, I do feel as if the jacket was disrespectful and it was something that I needed to share. I do realize everyone makes mistakes and falls short at times, so again, my intention was never to judge, just to share my opinion. Damar, I have respect and love for you and I wish you nothing but the best, but I just can’t rock with that jacket. I feel like there are a lot people, young and old, looking up to you and with power and influence comes great responsibility. I apologize for offending you, I just felt offended in that moment as a man who loves and respects our Lord and Savior, Yeshua. After speaking with Damar, I have an understanding that it didn’t come from a place of ill intent! #grateful #god #forgiveness.”
It sounds like Hamlin and Peterson came to an impasse on whether or not the jacket itself is offensive. However, the former Vikings running back came away understanding that Hamlin’s intention was not to offend.
And that’s that.