Overview

• Appearing on Fox News’ The Will Cain Show, Pearl said he is “not divisive” and denied that Auburn pressured him to retire.
• Pearl relayed that a friend of Michael Wilbon told him the PTI criticism was “not antisemitic” but “probably political.”
• On Sept. 23, Wilbon called Pearl “divisive” on Pardon the Interruption and said he hoped there was pressure to “get him out,” which Tony Kornheiser questioned on air.
• Pearl retired in late September, and Auburn elevated his son, Steven Pearl, to head coach as part of an internal handoff.
• Coverage cited Pearl’s outspoken support for Israel and his backing of President Donald Trump as context for why some view him through a political lens.