Jake Haener has had a very big week. The professional football player was bumped up to starting quarterback for the New Orleans Saints when previous quarterback Derek Carr was injured, thrusting Haener into the spotlight. The only problem? A photo shoot that Haener hates — and that queer folks love — is following him into the spotlight, too.
The images come from Haener’s rookie photo shoot with the NFL Players Association last year, and something about them is indisputably … slayful. Maybe it’s the slight swivel of Haener’s hips, or the editorial pout on his face.
Either way, the gays are obsessed, with the pics getting the meme treatment across social media. An ESPN TikTok about Haener’s new position was flooded with comments half-teasing, half-celebrating Haener’s fabulous photo shoot.
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“It’s giving tight end,” one commenter quipped.
“Saints! The musical,” commented another.
“It’s serving punt 🏈,” wrote a third — which, coincidentally, would be a great promo theme for the next season of Drag Race.
Haener, meanwhile, is less thrilled about the photos. He told Nola.com that the photographer told him to “have fun with it,” leading to the photos that Haener insists are “such the opposite representation of who I actually am.”
“I hate it so much. I can’t stand it,” he continued. “I would think I was a clown if I saw that, too.”
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Haener said that he’d be channeling that frustration into his first game as a starting quarterback, where he’d “let it rip” so “people will forget about that crap.”
“I might never get an opportunity to start a game again. I’m going to show everybody what I’m capable of doing and let the guys know I’m confident in doing that,” Haener added.
That game took place this Sunday, December 15, where the Saints lost to the Washington Commanders 19-20. Haener was benched after two quarters of gameplay.
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