MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Vikings have retained a former chief justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court and a former federal trial attorney to conduct an investigation into Chris Kluwe’s allegations that he was released from the team due to his support of gay marriage.
The team made the announcement on Friday, one day after Kluwe penned a blistering article alleging that special teams coordinator Mike Priefer made anti-gay comments during team meetings. Priefer has denied Kluwe’s allegations.
Former Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court Eric Magnuson and former Justice Department attorney Chris Madel will lead the investigation.
Vikings President Mark Wilf said “it is extremely important for the Vikings organization to react immediately and comprehensively with an independent review of these allegations.”
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In the article — titled “I was an NFL player until I was fired by two cowards and a bigot” and was posted Thursday on the website Deadspi — nKluwe wrote that Priefer made several anti-gay comments in objection to Kluwe’s outspoken opposition of an anti-gay marriage amendment in Minnesota.
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Kluwe also said former Vikings coach Leslie Frazier and current general manager Rick Spielman encouraged him to tone down his rhetoric in an effort to reduce distractions to the team.
Kluwe called Priefer “a bigot” and Spielman and Frazier “two cowards” for releasing him in May after eight seasons with the Vikings.