Bills rookie Jake Fromm apologizes to teammates for racist remark 15 months ago

Aug 31, 2019; Nashville, TN, USA; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Jake Fromm (11) before the game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports (Photo: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports)

Buffalo Bills rookie quarterback Jake Fromm apologized Thursday after a text conversation that occurred in March 2019 surfaced.

In a string of three separate texts apparently related to guns, Fromm said: 

“But no guns are good …”

“They need to let me get suppressors …”

“Just make them very expensive so only elite white people can get them haha.”

Fromm’s remarks certainly came off as racist, and while he apologized specifically for the “elite white people” reference, he will clearly have some major work to do to repair his image, not to mention earn back the respect of his teammates.

“I am extremely sorry that I chose to use the words ‘elite white people’ in a text message conversation,” Fromm said in a statement that was released Thursday afternoon and which he also posted on his Twitter account. “Although I never meant to imply that I am an ‘elite white person,’ as stated later in the conversation, there’s no excuse for that word choice and sentiment. While it was poor, my heart is not.

“Now, more than ever, is the time for support and togetherness and I stand against racism 100%. I promise to commit myself to being a part of the solution in this country. I addressed my teammates and coaches in a team meeting today and I hope they see this incident is not representative of the person I am. Again, I’m truly sorry for my words and actions and humbly ask for forgiveness.”

Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, who is black, was asked about Fromm’s comments and about the apology he put forth during a virtual team meeting Thursday morning.

“Jake seemed very sincere in his apology,” Frazier said. “We have a strong culture on our team, and those guys are going to sift through what’s real and what’s not real. He acknowledged he made a mistake. We’re still getting to know Jake as a teammate, but based on what he said to the team today I believe our guys will give him the benefit of the doubt. I think we have a mature enough team that our leaders are going to reach out to him and work with him.”

One of Fromm’s former Georgia teammates, Terry Godwin, who is now with the Jacksonville Jaguars, did not mince words,, saying he had lost all respect for his old quarterback in a tweet.

All of this comes a day after head coach Sean McDermott had spoken passionately about the topic of racism, and how he wanted his team to be a shining example for others to model.

Speaking about a picture that was taken in Florida of the Bills’ skill position players getting together for workouts, one that included Fromm, McDermott said, “I think it’s a great example, that visual, of what our world needs to look like with the guys smiling together and hands on each other’s shoulders. I think that’s a great snapshot for America.”

Sal Maiorana can be reached at maiorana@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @salmaiorana. To get the best local news coverage, subscribe to us through these special offers at https://cm.democratandchronicle.com/specialoffer/