Vikings special teams coach Mike Priefer to be reinstated Monday
When former punter Chris Kluwe threatened to sue the Vikings over alleged homophobic comments made by special teams coach Mike Priefer, the organization suspended him three gameswith the possibility of a reduced punishment.
On Sunday night, the team announced that Priefer would be reinstated Monday, meaning the suspension will have lasted two games.
"The decision by Vikings ownership follows extensive conversations with the independent professional consultants retained to conduct individualized anti-harassment, diversity and sexual orientation training with Coach Priefer," the team said in a statement. "Those consultants have conveyed to the team that Coach Priefer was fully and thoughtfully engaged throughout the process and successfully completed the program."
In January, Kluwe wrote in a piece for Deadspin that Priefer "would ask me if I had written any letters defending 'the gays' recently and denounce as disgusting the idea that two men would kiss, and he would constantly belittle or demean any idea of acceptance or tolerance. ... Mike Priefer also said on multiple occasions that I would wind up burning in hell with the gays, and that the only truth was Jesus Christ and the Bible. He said all this in a semi-joking tone, and I responded in kind, as I felt a yelling match with my coach over human rights would greatly diminish my chances of remaining employed."
Priefer denied those allegations, but an independent investigator found that Priefer had made one homophobic comment to Kluwe. Long snapper Cullen Loeffler had said Priefer had made the comment because Kluwe and Loeffler were not focused on football during practice.
"I owe an apology to many people -- the Wilf family, the Minnesota Vikings organization and fans, my family, the LGBT community, Chris Kluwe and anyone else that I offended with my insensitive remark," Priefer said when he was suspended. "I regret what has occurred and what I said. I am extremely sorry but I will learn from this situation and will work on educating others to create more tolerance and respect."
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