Former NFL star Joe Haden speaks out from Mexico, hopes to return to US amid cartel violence

Several nonrecreational shot matches successful Mexico were postponed implicit the play aft unit flared adjacent Guadalajara, 1 of the country’s big cities for the 2026 World Cup. The determination came successful the aftermath of a subject cognition that near cartel person Nemesio Oseguera, known arsenic "El Mencho," dead.

The sidesplitting of Mexico’s astir almighty cause cartel person has plunged parts of the state into chaos, impacting civilians and prompting visiting Americans to question a instrumentality to the U.S.

Joe Haden, who had stints with the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers, is among the Americans who are hoping to instrumentality location arsenic rapidly arsenic possible.

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Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joe Haden (23) warms up earlier playing the Tennessee Titans astatine Heinz Field connected Dec. 19, 2021 successful Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Philip G. Pavely/USA TODAY Sports)

Haden commented connected the developments he's noticed during his sojourn to Cabo during his latest quality connected his "Deebo & Joe" podcast. He besides admitted helium should person taken erstwhile Steelers' teammate James Harrison's informing astir traveling to Mexico much seriously.

"I should’ve listened to you. I should’ve listened to you, Deebo," Haden said successful notation to Harrison's connection that stressed caution.

"Honestly, I’m a small spooked brother. I can’t adjacent prevarication to you. It’s getting existent tricky connected this broadside of the world. I request to get backmost [my] feet planted connected a U.S. territory. I’m not adjacent trying to beryllium funny, I’m a small spooked. Because erstwhile you’re talking cartel, they’re going against police. They tally up astatine airports and stuff."

Joe Haden (23) of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks connected against the Philadelphia Eagles during the preseason crippled astatine Lincoln Financial Field connected Aug. 12, 2021 successful Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Haden’s quality connected the podcast was chopped abbreviated arsenic helium near to finalize question plans backmost to the U.S., leaving Harrison to big the remainder of the episode.

 "I’m trying to publication my stuff, I got a formation I tin get now," Haden said. "I truly tried to get connected this amusement to amusement you my face, fto you cognize I americium good, but I truly bash request to slide."

Joe Haden (23) of the Pittsburgh Steelers stands connected the sideline during an NFL shot crippled against the Seattle Seahawks, astatine Heinz Field connected Oct. 17, 2021 successful Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  (Perry Knotts/Getty Images)

Haden was believed to beryllium successful Cabo San Lucas astatine the clip the podcast was released.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said via X that the U.S. authorities provided quality enactment for the cognition that led to the sidesplitting of "El Mencho."

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"‘El Mencho’ was a apical people for the Mexican and United States authorities arsenic 1 of the apical traffickers of fentanyl into our homeland," she wrote. She commended Mexico’s subject for its work.

The sidesplitting of the cause lord acceptable disconnected respective hours of roadblocks with burning vehicles, tactics commonly utilized by the cartels to artifact subject operations. Videos circulated connected societal media showed fume billowing implicit the tourer metropolis of Puerto Vallarta successful Jalisco, and radical sprinting done the airdrome of the state’s superior successful panic.

Guadalajara, the superior of Jalisco state, is slated to signifier 4 matches during the 2026 World Cup, including 2 involving South Korea. Mexico, Spain, Uruguay and Colombia are besides scheduled to play astatine the venue.

Mexico’s nationalist squad remains acceptable to big Iceland successful a affable Wednesday astatine Corregidora Stadium successful Querétaro. As of Sunday, the Mexican shot federation had not announced immoderate changes to that match.

Not each sporting events were affected. Organizers of the Mexican Open successful Acapulco said the ATP tourney would statesman Monday astatine the GNP Arena arsenic planned.

Fox News' Landon Mion and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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