Are NFL Players Still Kneeling?

The NFL season is in full swing and players are still taking a knee during the national anthem to protest racial injustice. Are NFL players still kneeling?

Introduction

Since taking office, President Donald Trump has made it clear that he is not a fan of NFL players kneeling during the national anthem. In fact, he has called for them to be fired if they do not stand.

Interestingly enough, though, NFL players have continued to kneel during the anthem, even after Trump’s comments. In fact, many players see it as a way to start a conversation about social injustice and police brutality.

So, are NFL players still kneeling? The answer is yes. Trump’s comments have not stopped them from speaking out against social injustice.

What led to the kneeling protests?

The kneeling protest began in 2016 when then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality. “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick told NFL Media at the time. “To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”

Kaepernick’s protests inspired other NFL players to kneel during the national anthem, and the movement quickly spread to other professional sports leagues and college campuses. The protests became a major topic of conversation during the 2017 NFL season, after President Donald Trump said players who kneel should be fired.

Since then, several players have continued to kneel during the anthem, while others have raised their fists or remained in the locker room during “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The protests have continued into the 2018 season, with some players saying they will continue to kneel until there is significant progress on issues of racial inequality.

The current state of kneeling protests

The current state of kneeling protests is that they have largely died down. This is due to a combination of factors, including the NFL instituting a new rule that requires players to stand for the National Anthem, and many players opting to find other ways to protest social injustice. While there are still some players who kneel during the Anthem, the number is far lower than it was in previous years.

The public’s reaction to the kneeling protests

The general public’s reaction to the kneeling protests has been mixed. Some people believe that the players are disrespecting the flag and the military, while others believe that the players are peacefully exercising their constitutional right to free speech. Overall, there has been a significant amount of support for the protests from various sectors of society.

The future of the kneeling protests

It’s been nearly three years since Colin Kaepernick first took a knee during the National Anthem, igniting a nationwide movement to protest racial injustice. Since then, the kneeling protests have continued on and off the football field, with players from other sports joining in. But as the 2020 NFL season approaches, it’s unclear whether the kneeling protests will continue.

One thing is certain: the conversation around race and policing has only intensified in the past few years. In the wake of high-profile police shootings of unarmed black men and women, as well as the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, many NFL players say they feel a renewed sense of purpose to use their platform to call for change.

“When Colin Kaepernick took a knee back in 2016, he really started a movement that has transformed this country,” says Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins, who has been one of the most vocal protesters in the NFL. “Regardless of what happens this season with regard to demonstrations or not, that work is going to continue off the field.”

Still, it’s possible that we won’t see any kneeling during NFL games this season. In June, Houston Texans owner Bob McNair sparked outrage when he said “we can’t have inmates running the prison,” referring to NFL players. In response, dozens of players considered protesting during games, but ultimately decided against it. And earlier this month, when asked about potential protests during training camp, new San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said he hopes his team will stand for the anthem but will support any player who wants to kneel.

For now, it remains to be seen whether kneeling protests will continue during NFL games this season. But regardless of what happens on the field, it’s clear that many players are committed to using their platform to call for change off it.