By Nicole Cobler | Sept. 29, 2016
One million dollars is just half what the average NFL player makes in a year, but it’s a hefty political donation nonetheless. So far only one NFL team owner has anted up that much during the 2016 campaign cycle according to a report by the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington — Robert McNair of the Houston Texans.
The owner of Texas’ other team — Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys — has ponied up $200,000 in the 2016 presidential race, the center reported.
McNair’s $1.3 million in political contributions haven’t gone to support presidential aspirants. He gave $1 million to a super PAC dedicated to protecting the Republican hold on the U.S. Senate, and $100,000 to a similar super PAC for the U.S. House.
NFL owners have contributed more than $2.1 million thus far in 2016, but little went to presidential candidates’ super PACs, the analysis found. Other major NFL owner donors included Robert Wood “Woody” Johnson of the New York Jets, who gave $100,000 to the Trump Victory joint fundraising committee, and Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, who gave $125,200 to joint fundraising committees.
McNair is “head and shoulders above the rest,” said Jordan Libowitz, a spokesman for the ethics group that released the report.
Nicole Cobler 