Chris Kluwe is coming to Oakland. That’s what the punter told his fellow supporter of equal rights, former Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo, in a story for Fox Sports. Kluwe will compete with Marquette King for the starting job now that Shane Lechler is gone after 13 seasons.
As he did with the Minnesota Vikings, Kluwe plans to be outspoken on many issues, including gay rights.
“I’m still going to be myself socially and continue to tweet and interact with my fans,” Kluwe told Ayanbadejo.
Kluwe’s contract is for one year, and is for the league minimum.
“I’m excited to be an Oakland Raider and be playing in California,” Kluwe, who attended high school in Southern California before going to UCLA, said. “Now, my family can actually come to games.”
Kluwe, 31, averaged 45.0 yards on 72 punts last season as a Viking.
Kluwe said he is focused on punting, but he also told Fox Sports that he will keep his eye on Proposition 8 in California. Prop 8 was passed by voters in 2008 and governs that the state only recognize marriages between a man and a woman. The law’s legality was argued before the US Supreme Court in March, with a ruling expected in June, and Kluwe is optimistic about the likely repeal of the measure. If the measure is not repealed, however, he says it will be an issue of concern that will need to be addressed.
Last December, in a game against the Bears, Kluwe also made a statement for legendary Raiders punter Ray Guy.
Kluwe covered the Pro Football Hall of Fame patch on his jersey with a post-it message that read “Vote Ray Guy,” as a protest against the Hall’s 50th Anniversary celebrations because there are no pure punters in Canton.
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A pic for dgs49... (this is not a picture of Kluwe)
