Chicago made history on Thursday when Cardinal Robert Prevost became Pope Leo XIV, marking the first time an American has ever held the papacy. While the city’s Catholic community celebrated the occasion, the NFL world saw an opening, and Annie Agar didn’t miss her shot.
Known for her sharp wit and sports satire, Agar took to X (formerly Twitter) shortly after the pope’s announcement.
“Chicago produced a Pope before a QB who throws for 4000 yards,” she wrote, roasting the Bears with a jab that hit home. The post quickly caught fire online, racking up more than 59,000 likes, 7,000 reposts, 700 replies, and over 1,000 bookmarks. But the attention wasn’t all positive.
Chicago produced a Pope before a QB who throws for 4000 yards.
— Annie Agar (@AnnieAgar) May 8, 2025
Joke Lands Big, But Raises Eyebrows
Agar’s tweet struck a nerve with football fans, and not just in Chicago. While plenty of users applauded her timing and delivery, others raised questions about originality. A similar post appeared just two minutes earlier, prompting some to accuse her of stealing the idea.
“The pope does not approve of stealing,” one user commented.
The pope does not approve of stealing pic.twitter.com/cQ8YGOdSCj
— Jim Miloch (@podoffame) May 8, 2025
Another added, “No love for the 8th Commandment.”
no love for the 8th Commandment https://t.co/Nq19fz6kDH pic.twitter.com/KXWBod89pS
— Pat Thorman (@Pat_Thorman) May 8, 2025
Despite the criticism, the tweet gained plenty of traction for all the right reasons.
A frustrated Bears supporter said, “PLEASE STOP SENDING ME THIS.”
PLEASE STOP SENDING ME THIS https://t.co/OQYcePoJHQ
— SampsonSmartypants® (@SampGetsSnooks) May 8, 2025
And one post summed up the reaction across the app: “X… or Twitter… or whatever we call this place now can call it a day. We have a winner.”
X … or Twitter … or whatever we call this place now can call it a day. We have a winner. https://t.co/TVkDBzmBT7
— Mike Popovich (@mpopovichREP) May 8, 2025
Agar’s joke may not have been unique, but that hasn’t stopped it from resonating. Chicago remains the only NFL city that has never had a 4,000-yard passer, making the jab easy and painfully accurate.
As for Pope Leo XIV, the new pontiff was born in Chicago, studied at Villanova, and spent time in Peru before returning to the U.S. in the late 1990s. Whether or not he’s a Bears fan is still unknown, but if he is, he’s likely used to disappointment on Sundays.