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Chris Kluwe has transitioned from an NFL punter to a writer, social activist, and politician.
Kluwe became a humor columnist for the sports website Deadspin, publishing articles and notable letters, such as his defense of Brendon Ayanbadejo's free speech and an accusation against the Vikings. He also wrote an article highlighting his career and contrasting it with Nate Jackson's.
NPR featured Chris Kluwe discussing his book, 'Beautifully Unique Sparkleponies,' which collects his thoughts on various topics including gay marriage and football.
Bloomberg reported on the agreement between Chris Kluwe and Donovan McNabb for the number 5 jersey, which involved McNabb making a $5,000 donation to charity, mentioning Kluwe's band 'Tripping Icarus' five times, and buying him an ice cream cone.
Kluwe appeared on 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' to discuss his support for same-sex marriage. Ellen DeGeneres inducted him as the first member of her Hall of Fame.
Despite identifying as agnostic, Chris Kluwe agreed to speak at the 2014 American Atheists Convention.
Kluwe made an appearance on Minnesota's 93X radio station, playing Guitar Hero 2 with Andy McNamara from Game Informer magazine.
Kluwe is a frequent guest on Minnesota sports station KFAN for "Video Games Weekly" on Wednesday nights, discussing video games.
Kluwe won a competition against Firaxis Games producer and designer Garth DeAngelis, resulting in a Sniper class, hero level character named in his honor in 'XCOM: Enemy Within'.
Kluwe created the unique weapon 'The Poet's Pen Carved Wand' for the game 'Path of Exile'.
Victory Point Games published Kluwe's first tabletop game, 'Twilight of the Gods', which was released on August 31, 2017.
Little Brown & Co. published Kluwe's book, 'Beautifully Unique Sparkleponies', a collection of essays. It was released on June 25, 2013.
Tor Books published Kluwe's first solo novel, 'Otaku', in March 2020.
Kluwe contributed a chapter titled 'Preparation and Performance' to the 2024 book 'Kobold Guide to Roleplaying', published by Kobold Press.
Christopher James Kluwe, born on December 24, 1981, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, established an early athletic career in football. He attended Los Alamitos High School in California, where he distinguished himself as a punter, earning a USA Today first-team All-American selection. His performance included a 57-yard game-winning field goal and a 60-yard field goal, setting an Orange County and CIF Playoff record. He continued his academic and athletic pursuits at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), specializing in political science and history while becoming a notable punter in the Pac-10 Conference. He graduated in 2005, a finalist for the Ray Guy Award, which recognizes the best collegiate punter.
Kluwe’s professional football career began in 2005 when he signed as an undrafted free agent with the Seattle Seahawks. Shortly after, he was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Vikings, where he played for eight seasons, from 2005 to 2012. During his tenure with the Vikings, Kluwe set eight individual team records, including career punt average (44.4 yards) and career punts inside the 20-yard line (198). His time in the NFL was marked not only by his athletic contributions but also by his outspoken advocacy on social issues. In 2013, he signed with the Oakland Raiders, but was released shortly thereafter, leading to his retirement from professional football in 2014.
Following his retirement from the NFL, Kluwe focused on writing and activism. He became a humor columnist for Deadspin and published his book, “Beautifully Unique Sparkleponies,” in 2013. His advocacy for same-sex marriage and gay rights gained national attention, notably through a public letter to a Maryland delegate and an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court. He also ventured into tabletop gaming, releasing “Twilight of the Gods” in 2017, and coaching at Edison High School. In 2025, Kluwe announced his campaign for the California State Assembly, further solidifying his transition into public life.
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