Pro Football Hall of Famer Brett Favre said Wednesday he finds it “hard to believe” that former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was planning to kill George Floyd during Floyd’s arrest last year.
“I find it hard to believe, and I do not defend Derek Chauvin in any way. I find it hard to believe that he deliberately wanted to kill George Floyd,” Favre said on his podcast Bolling with Favre.
“His actions are said to be unsolicited,” the 20-year-old NFL veteran added. ‘I do not care what color the person on the street is. I do not know what led to the video that we saw where his knee is on his neck, but the man threw in the towel. ‘
Favre’s comments come one day after a jury found Chauvin guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree murder.
In the video of the arrest, Chauvin is seen kneeling on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes, even after Floyd lost consciousness.
The football legend, just one week after saying he wanted politics out of sports, got lost in the heated conversation surrounding Floyd’s death. He said last week that he believes the involvement of politics in athletics has harmed games and that he agrees with those who have decided to stop watching sports.
Favre defended his comments on politics and sports on Wednesday after receiving a setback, saying: “I just gave my opinion. I’m definitely not a racist, despite what some people think, and you know, I’m for unity and I just feel there’s a better way to unite our country. ‘
“That said, there are a lot of things that need to stop.” Said Favre.
Meanwhile, the NFL on Tuesday expressed support for the verdict in the Chauvin trial on Tuesday.
“Today’s result in the Derek Chauvin trial in Minneapolis does not undo the loss of life,” the statement said. “Mr. George Floyd should be here with us today. Our hearts remain with the Floyd family, and we understand that the pain, anger and frustration do not go away, even when things are not right.”