Here is the letter PETA sent Patriots’ Will Campbell about ‘cat kicking’ comments

Here is the letter PETA sent Patriots’ Will Campbell about ‘cat kicking’ comments originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has sent a letter to Will Campbell following comments the New England Patriots rookie offensive lineman made during Super Bowl week about a past encounter with a cat.

There have been many unorthodox questions during this week in the past, and this time around was no exception. During Tuesday morning's breakout session in Santa Clara, Campbell was asked about his greatest irrational fear. After a brief pause and a rephrased question about what bothers him most, the former LSU standout gave a blunt answer.

“Cats,” Campbell said.

He then recounted a high school incident in which he said a cat jumped out from under a bed and attacked him while he was in a dark room at a friend’s house.

Will Campbell HATES cats and here’s the reason why…🙅‍♂️🐈 pic.twitter.com/9FZDvM4adm

— theScore (@theScore) February 4, 2026

“I just hear a screech, and a cat jumped out from under this bed onto my leg,” Campbell said. “I booted that thing.”

When asked if he would apologize to the cat, Campbell doubled down. He admitted to kicking the feline. “No, it needs to apologize for biting my damn leg,” he said.

The viral moment shared ahead of Super Bowl 60 was widely circulated and prompted a response from PETA, which wrote directly to Campbell urging him to reconsider how such stories are framed.

“We know you didn’t mean to make light of abusing animals, but please know, even when said in passing, comments like that hit harder than people often realize,” the letter provided to Sporting News read in part. “When harming an animal is discussed casually, it can make violence seem normal, and cruelty case workers across the country deal with the fallout.”

The letter, signed by PETA's Liliana Djuricko, also explained the prevalence of animal abuse and encouraged Campbell to use his influence in a more constructive way.

“Cat and dog abuse is rampant, and the wonderful people working in law enforcement, at our shelters, and out in the field need the support of influential folks like you,” the letter said.

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Campbell was selected fourth overall in the 2025 NFL draft out of LSU and stepped into a starting role at left tackle as a rookie for the Patriots. His first professional season included injury setbacks and matchups against elite pass rushers, making it a challenging introduction to the league.

The Patriots have not publicly commented on PETA’s letter, and Campbell has not addressed it since the exchange earlier this week.

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