Eli Apple has established himself over his seven-year NFL career as one of the league’s most polarizing players.
The Bengals cornerback, who previously played for the Giants, Saints and Panthers, has never been one to hold his tongue. When he makes headlines, it’s usually for things that take place off the field rather than on it.
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The latest example: his taking to Twitter to taunt Stefon Diggs and Josh Allen after the Bengals blew out the Bills in the divisional round.
They ain’t do this after the game 🤔 https://t.co/B0t45N7cEv
— Eli Apple (@EliApple) January 24, 2023
The jury is still very much out on whether Apple’s skills on the field are at a high enough level to excuse his constant jawing. But even when the rest of the internet is taking shots at him, he can always count on one person to come to his defense: his mom, Annie.
Who is Annie Apple, Eli Apple’s mom?
In her Twitter bio, Annie Apple describes herself as a writer/producer and journalist. She previously wrote a blog called “Survivin America: Making It Through with Humor and Hope,” although it appears the website no longer exists.
She was hired by ESPN in 2016 as a contributor to “Sunday NFL Countdown.”
“Annie caught our attention during the NFL Draft and when we met with her in person at ESPN we were blown away by her relatability, her sense of humor and just how unafraid she is to speak her mind,” Seth Markman, then the senior coordinating producer for ESPN’s NFL studio shows, said of the hire.
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But many also know her from social media, where she boasts more than 28,000 followers on Twitter. She often uses the platform to defend her son from internet haters and highlight his accomplishments on the field.
Eli started every game but 1 (injured). His bro Chido goes down. Y’all said Bengals season over. Team is currently on TEN game win streak heading into back to back AFC championship but he’s weakest link as a starting corner on a dominating defense in the AFC. #LoveToHateEliApple https://t.co/oXqtc9RUpl pic.twitter.com/TdHkhkUsu7
— Annie Apple (@SurvivinAmerica) January 25, 2023
She is certainly aware of her son’s reputation as a villain. In fact, she’s doing her best to turn it into a positive.
In a post Tuesday, she encouraged all “Eli Apple haters” to tweet with the hashtag #LoveToHateEliApple. For each tweet using the hashtag, $5,000 was donated to the Salvation Army in Cincinnati.
Calling all Eli Apple haters: Please use the hashtag #LoveToHateEliApple and we’ll donate $5,000 to the Salvation Army in Cincinnati…First 5,000 tweets with that hashtag. Make your hate count. Put that Eli Apple hate to great use and help families needing housing and care🙏🏾
— Annie Apple (@SurvivinAmerica) January 24, 2023
“Make your hate count,” she wrote. “Put that Eli Apple hate to great use and help families needing housing and care.”
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Eli Apple will suit up for another massive game Sunday when the Bengals travel to Arrowhead Stadium for the second year in a row to take on the Chiefs in the AFC championship game. After falling just short of a Lombardi Trophy last season, Cincinnati will look to finish the job this time around.
Many of Eli’s haters around the league — including Tyreek Hill — couldn’t help but gloat after the corner got burned for touchdowns twice against the Rams in Super Bowl 56. But of course, Annie quickly came to her son’s defense, and she clapped back (NSFW) at several posts mocking him.
When you see Annie Apple’s feistiness on Twitter, it suddenly becomes a lot clearer from where her son got his trash talking tendencies. And whether Eli is being praised as a hero or condemned as a villain after this weekend, Annie will no doubt be there ready to defend him.
The Apple, as it turns out, does not fall far from the tree.
