In 2003, conservative radio titan Rush Limbaugh departed his role with ESPN after making controversial comments about Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb. Michael Berry believes the situation broke Limbaugh’s heart.
“I think what we’ve had here is a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well,” Limbaugh said in 2003. “There is a little hope invested in McNabb, and he got a lot of credit for the performance of this team that he didn’t deserve. The defense carried this team.”
While discussing the anniversary of Frank Gifford’s death Thursday, Berry reminisced about Limbaugh’s role in analyzing the NFL with ESPN.
“They kicked him off of there,” Berry said. “And it absolutely broke his heart.”
The Houston-based host then shared that he thought Limbaugh would have been a great NFL owner, something he tried to accomplish but could never get the league’s support.
“Rush loved football. He was part of the ownership team that was buying the Pittsburgh Steelers. And I remember Sheila Jackson Lee that evil b — yeah, she was part of the group that made a huge stink and kept him from buying the Steelers,” Michael Berry continued. “Can you imagine how much he would have enjoyed sitting in the Rooney suite? As an owner of the Steelers? Oh, it would have been so much joy. He would have been so excited about it.”
