Football and politics: Michigan governor sneaks in jab at Vikings

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was helping introduce Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who is the Democratic vice-presidential candidate.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, left, stands with U.S. Vice President and democratic candidate for U.S. president Kamala Harris during a campaign stop in Romulus on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. / Mandi Wright / USA TODAY NETWORK

Politics and football go together like fire and water but Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz's entrance into the 2024 election as the vice-presidential candidate alongside Democratic nominee Kamala Harris has made the pairing slightly more palatable — while also opening the door for cheap shots.

On Wednesday, while the Harris-Walz ticket was campaigning in Detroit, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recognized the fact that Walz was once an assistant coach on a high school football team that won a state championship in Minnesota 25 years ago. Then she springboarded off the football fact into a Vikings-Lions joke.

"He's a former soldier and a state championship-winning football coach," Whitmer said of Walz. "I mean, maybe he should help out the Vikings since we smoked them twice last year."

Whitmer: Tim Walz is a former soldier and a state championship winning football coach. Maybe he should help out the Vikings after we smoked them twice last year. pic.twitter.com/EczUGf8t6v

— Acyn (@Acyn) August 7, 2024

Whitmer's quip drew a roar of laughter from the crowd. And, yes, it is true that he Lions beat the Vikings twice last season, though we'd be hard-pressed to say they "smoked" Minnesota. Detroit won by scores of 30-24 and 30-20 in Weeks 16 and 18.

Minnesota owns the all-time series against Detroit with a record of 80-43-2, with the next meeting between NFC North rivals set for Oct. 20 in Minneapolis.