Raiders analyst Kirk Morrison learns ‘AOC’ isn’t just a third-string NFL quarterback: ‘Some political stuff’

The NFL reigns supreme as a media and cultural powerhouse, but it cannot yet claim to have the most famous AOC.

The Las Vegas Raiders lost their preseason opener 27-14 to the Arizona Cardinals Thursday night, where third-string quarterback Aidan O’Connell completed an uninspiring 4 of 13 passes for 85 yards. Considering the nondescript preseason performance, Raiders analyst Kirk Morrison was probably a little confused as to why “AOC” would be trending on social media.

“It’s just funny, because I go on social media, and you see AOC is trending. And I’m like, ‘Oh my god.’ I go straight to Aidan O’Connell. And I realize, ‘Oh, it’s some politics stuff.'” – Raiders analyst Kirk Morrison pic.twitter.com/WYSA17rXep

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 14, 2026

“It’s just funny because I go on social media and you see ‘AOC’ is trending,” Morrison admitted during the broadcast. “And I’m like, ‘Oh my God.’ I go straight to Aidan O’Connell, and I realize, ‘Oh, it’s some politics stuff.’ It’s kind of funny that when you see Aidan O’Connell go out there, he just goes about his business.”

The “some political stuff” was Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). Sure, O’Connell has been a starting NFL quarterback and might be a known name amongst American football fans. But the other AOC is one of the most influential and prominent progressive figures in American politics, which is why you can usually expect to see the Democratic rep trending on social media.

Maybe Morrison knew why AOC was trending. But if he really did think AOC was trending for Aidan O’Connell for a moment, it’s hard not to be a little jealous of the former NFL linebacker and current Raiders radio analyst. Because admittedly, it would be nice to wake up one morning and be that naïve to politics and even social media to see AOC trending and assume it’s for a third-string Raiders quarterback during the preseason.