Minnesota Governor Tim Walz faced ridicule [1] on social media for a misstep in football terminology, despite his background as a former high school football coach.
In a recent X post, Walz referred to the well-known “fourth quarter” as the “final quarter,” while sharing a photo with Kamala Harris in a show of campaign spirit. “We’ve got the ball and we’re driving down field. And boy, do we have the team to win this. Let’s make it happen,” Walz wrote, linking the message to a get-out-the-vote initiative.
Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), who has an extensive coaching background with five Coach of the Year awards, highlighted Walz’s error. “We call it the 4th Quarter, ‘Coach,’” Tuberville posted on X, poking fun at the governor’s lack of familiarity with basic football language.
We call it the 4th Quarter, “Coach”. https://t.co/G5rh604euo [2]
— Tommy Tuberville (@TTuberville) November 1, 2024 [3]
This misstep comes on the heels of another recent incident where Walz’s football terminology was questioned. During a video game stream with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) aimed at engaging young voters, Walz demonstrated what many viewers saw as limited attention to the gameplay and knowledge of the sport.
The two politicians were playing Madden NFL, but the stream failed to gain significant traction as both players seemed more focused on political talking points than on scoring in the game. In fact, one of the games ended with a score of 0-0 as they repeatedly ran the ball up the middle with minimal success.
Following the stream, Walz posted a now-deleted message congratulating Ocasio-Cortez for “running” a “mean pick six” and mentioning his ability to “call an audible on a play.”
The message caused further confusion, as a “pick six” refers to a defensive play where a team intercepts the ball and returns it for a touchdown—meaning it’s not something an offensive player can “run.” The governor’s post left many fans of the game questioning his understanding of even basic football plays.
Tim Walz, former football coach and avid hunter, can’t load a gun and speaks like he doesn’t understand football – you don’t “run” a pick 6. pic.twitter.com/WoPTUUR0GF [4]
— amanda (@amandatalks__) October 28, 2024 [5]
These recent incidents have drawn comments from both sports fans and political observers who noted the irony of Walz’s lack of familiarity with fundamental football terminology, given his history as a coach.
Critics argue that these gaffes may reflect Walz’s efforts to connect with a younger audience, particularly through gaming and sports references, though they point out that these attempts sometimes miss the mark.
Walz has often referenced his time as a football coach to appeal to voters, but these recent flubs on social media have raised questions about his sports knowledge and focus.
With Election Day approaching, the spotlight on his public comments has only intensified as both allies and opponents dissect his messaging and social media presence.