Former NFL offensive lineman Shar Pourdanesh voiced strong support for action against Iran’s Islamic regime, calling it unrepresentative of the Iranian people. He praised U.S. and Israeli efforts and urged Iranians to reclaim their country. Pourdanesh also criticized the NFL for remaining silent, questioning why the league has not spoken out on the ongoing conflict and reported deaths.
Former NFL offensive lineman Shar Pourdanesh is no longer blocking defenders on Sundays. Instead, he is using his voice to speak about the country where he was born. As conflict intensifies and the Islamic Republic faces renewed pressure, Pourdanesh has emerged as one of the most outspoken former players of Iranian descent calling for change.Born in Tehran and later becoming the NFL’s first Iranian born player, Pourdanesh spent seven seasons in the league with Washington and Pittsburgh. Now retired, he has turned to social media to celebrate what he believes is a turning point for Iranians around the world. His message is direct. It is emotional. And it leaves little room for ambiguity.
Shar Pourdanesh calls for freedom and challenges the NFL
ID@undefined Caption not available.When military strikes against the Islamic regime began, Pourdanesh posted, “This is a great day for all Iranians across the world.
Thank you, President Trump, thank you to the nation of Israel. Thank you for everybody that has been standing up for my people, my brothers and sisters in Iran across the world. This is a great day.“The infamous dictator is dead – the one person who has contributed to deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iranians and other people around the world, if not more. So, congratulations to my Iranian brothers and sisters. Now, go and take back the country.”
His support did not stop there. In another post, he made his position even clearer: “[The] Islamic Republic does not represent the Iranian people. Islam does not represent the Iranian people. For almost 50 years, the Iranian people and our country of Iran has been taken hostage by a terrorist regime, and it’s time to take that regime down.”Pourdanesh has also directed frustration toward the NFL. During his playing career, he says the league encouraged players to stand for social causes.
Now he questions its silence.“I did everything they asked, and now I ask the NFL this: Where are you now? Why haven’t we heard a single word out of the NFL? NFL, Commissioner Roger Goodell, all the NFL teams out there, all the players who say they stand for social justice, where are you now?“Why haven’t we heard a single word out of you with regard to the people who have been killed as of today? The very values you claim to espouse are being trampled right now. Why haven’t we heard a single word?”For Pourdanesh, this moment is personal. His career may be over, but his connection to Iran remains strong. And in his view, silence is no longer an option.
