The Huffington Post has named former NFL wide receiver Donté Stallworth as its new political fellow on national security.
Stallworth, who was a wide receiver for the New England Patriots, appeared in 115 games over 10 years in the NFL, logging a total of 321 receptions for 4,837 yards and 35 touchdowns. He played college football at the University of Tennessee.
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"As an NFL player I was fortunate to work with some of the best and brightest the game had to offer," Stallworth said in a press release announcing the move. "That same fortune follows me to The Huffington Post where Arianna Huffington is constantly ahead of the game in changing the ways we get our news. I'm blessed and honored to have such a great opportunity to work with some great minds and even better people."
Stallworth was welcomed via Twitter by the site's editor in chief Arianna Huffington.
.@dontestallworth Welcome aboard! We're so excited to have you here.— Arianna Huffington (@ariannahuff) September 3, 2014
Stallworth's selection has raised eyebrows not because of his football career, but due to his previous comments on the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
NO WAY 9/11 was carried out by "dying" Bin Laden, 19 men who couldn't fly a damn kite. STILL have NO EVIDENCE Osama was connected, like Iraq— Donte' Stallworth (@DonteStallworth) July 20, 2009
He also spent 30 days in jail after pleading guilty to a charge of manslaughter while driving under the influence of alcohol. The reduced sentence came after Stallworth reached a private financial settlement with the victim's family.
Stallworth was welcomed by his new colleagues in a press release.
"Donte has a quick mind, an insatiable curiosity and a passion for politics -- the necessary qualities of a great journalist," Ryan Grim, The Huffington Post's Washington bureau chief, said.
"There's been a national security wonk lurking underneath Donté's helmet for quite some time, as anyone who follows him on Twitter knows," Amanda Terkel, politics managing editor, said in the release. "We're excited that he's going to bring his insights to The Huffington Post."