9/17/09NFL owners, team officials, players and coaches have overwhelmingly favored Republicans with their political contributions, according to a study released Thursday by the Center for Responsive Politics.
The report, which reviewed contributions dating back to 1989, found that combined contributions from players, owners and officials on 22 of the 32 National Football League teams have given more cash to Republicans than Democrats, and that several teams have given more than 90 percent of their contributions to the GOP.
The San Diego Chargers blew away the rest of the field with $2,455,200 in total money contributed, with most of that coming from team owner Alex Spanos, who has given more than $2 million, almost all of it to Republicans.
No other team' made total contributions of more than $1 million, though 19 others gave at least $100,000.
The Houston Texans contributed the second-highest amount after San Diego, sending $615,256 of its $623,456 total to Republicans. Next came the Arizona Cardinals, who gave 75 percent of $337,096 to Republicans.
The St. Louis Rams were the NFL’s biggest donor to Democrats, contributing $230,050, 98 percent of the team’s total.
The NFL’s own political action committee, Gridiron PAC, has also favored Democrats. According to the study, since its inception last year Gridiron PAC has given roughly two-thirds of its donations to Democrats.
The Rams’ preference for the Democratic Party dates back to the days when the team played in Los Angeles. Prior to moving to St. Louis in 1994, the team gave $47,250 to Democrats.
The NFL team that contributed the fewest dollars to political campaigns? That would be the Green Bay Packers, the only non-profit, community-owned team in professional sports. The Packers have given just $8,750 over the past 20 years, barely edging out the Al Davis-owned Oakland Raiders as the stingiest team. The Raiders have donated $8,800 in total, a figure which includes the team’s time in Los Angeles.
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