Are NFL Players Still Kneeling for the National Anthem?

The kneeling controversy began in 2016 when then-49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality. Kaepernick’s actions divided the nation, with some people supporting his right to protest and others believing that he was disrespecting the flag and the military. The issue came to a head again in 2017 when President Donald Trump said that players who kneeled during the anthem should be fired. In 2018, the issue has largely died down, but some players are still kneeling

Introduction

It’s been over two years since then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick first took a knee during the National Anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality, and the issue has been a polarizing one ever since.

Although Kaepernick is no longer in the NFL, the kneeling protest became a movement, with other players joining in both on and off the field. The act of taking a knee during the National Anthem became synonymous with protesting social injustice, and many saw it as a direct challenge to President Donald Trump, who was critical of the protests from early on.

The debate around whether or not it’s appropriate to kneel during the National Anthem came to a head in 2017, when Trump said that NFL owners should “fire” players who chose to do so. In response, more players began kneeling or joining together in unity while the Anthem was played before games.

The following year, the NFL implemented a new rule stating that all players must either stand for the Anthem or stay in the locker room until it’s over. However, this rule was put on hold just months later amid pressure from both players and fans.

So, where does things stand now? Are NFL players still kneeling for the National Anthem? Let’s take a look.

What led to NFL players kneeling during the national anthem?

It began with Colin Kaepernick, then a quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, who in 2016 sat and then kneeled during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” before preseason games to protest the treatment of black Americans, especially by the police. Other players followed suit, and the protests grew last season after President Trump said at a rally that N.F.L. owners should fire players who refused to stand for the anthem.

Racial injustice and police brutality

The kneeling movement began in 2016 when then-49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick chose to sit and then kneel during the national anthem to protest against racial injustice and police brutality. His actions quickly garnered attention and led to other NFL players joining in, either by kneeling or raising a fist during the anthem.

The movement continued into the 2017 season, with some players choosing to kneel while others linked arms in solidarity. President Donald Trump weighed in on the matter, calling for NFL owners to fire players who knelt during the anthem. The NFL responded by saying that players were “encouraged but not required” to stand during the anthem.

In 2018, the number of players kneeling dropped significantly, although a handful of players continued to do so. Some believe that this is due to pressure from NFL owners and fear of retribution from President Trump. It is unclear if the kneeling movement will continue into the 2019 season.

Colin Kaepernick’s protest

Colin Kaepernick, a former San Francisco 49ers quarterback, became the face of an NFL player protest against racial injustice when he began sitting or kneeling during the national anthem in 2016. The following year, he chose to kneel during the anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality.

Other NFL players began joining Kaepernick’s protest, and the movement gained more traction after President Donald Trump criticized the players at a rally in September 2017. Trump called for NFL owners to fire players who knelt during the anthem, and many players responded by kneeling or linking arms in solidarity.

The protests continued throughout the 2017 season, with some players choosing to stay in the locker room during the anthem. In May 2018, the NFL released a new policy that said players could stay in the locker room during the anthem but would be fined if they kneeled on the field. The policy was put on hold after the Players Association filed a grievance.

As of 2019, several NFL players are still kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial injustice in America.

How have NFL players’ protests evolved?

It’s been three years since Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the national anthem to protest racial injustice, and the movement he sparked has continued to grow. In the 2016 season, dozens of other players joined Kaepernick in kneeling or raising their fists during the anthem, and the protests have continued into the 2017 season. But the movement has also evolved; now, players are using their platform to address a variety of social issues.

Players continue to kneel

Despite US president Donald Trump’s repeated criticism of NFL players who kneel during the national anthem, the protests showed no signs of abating last season.

At least nine players were seen taking a knee during pre-game anthems in week one of the 2018 season, including Miami Dolphins wide receivers Kenny Stills and Albert Wilson, as well as defensive end Robert Quinn.

Other players around the league raised their fists or remained in the locker room while the anthem played.

The form of protest was started by then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in 2016 to draw attention to police brutality and racial injustice.

Trump has been a vocal critic of the protest movement, calling for players who kneel to be fired. In September 2017, he said NFL owners should “get that son of a bitch off the field” if they saw a player protesting during the anthem.

Earlier this year, Trump praised a new NFL policy that would fined teams if players kneeled during the anthem but gave them the option to stay in the locker room. The policy was later put on hold amid backlash from players.

Players raise their fists

In 2016, then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick knelt during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality. His act started a wave of protests by NFL players that continues today, though it has taken on new meaning in the wake of George Floyd’s death.

In the months since Floyd’s death, NFL players have continued to kneel during the national anthem, but they have also raised their fists, worn “Black Lives Matter” T-shirts and taken other actions to show their solidarity with the movement. Here’s a look at how NFL player protests have evolved since Kaepernick first took a knee.

Some players remain in the locker room during the anthem

In recent years, some NFL players have chosen to protest during the playing of the national anthem before games. These protests began in 2016, when then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick chose to kneel during the anthem as a way to protest police brutality and racial inequality.

Since then, other players have joined in Kaepernick’s protest, either by kneeling, raising a fist, or remaining in the locker room during the anthem. In 2018, following the lead of then-NFL player Eric Reid, several players on different teams began protesting again after Kaepernick remained unsigned by any team that offseason.

The protests have continued into the 2019 season, with some players on multiple teams taking a knee or raising a fist during the anthem. While most players who choose to protest are African American, there have also been white players who have participated in the protests.

How have fans reacted to NFL players’ protests?

It has been over two years since Colin Kaepernick first took a knee during the national anthem, and the protests by NFL players have continued throughout the season. Some fans have reacted negatively, burning jerseys and swearing off the NFL entirely. However, other fans have shown support for the players’ right to protest. Let’s take a look at how fans have reacted to the NFL players’ protests.

Some fans boo players who kneel

During the 2016 NFL season, then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began sitting and later kneeling during the national anthem before games to protest police brutality and racial injustice. His actions prompted other players to do the same, and the protests have continued throughout the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

Many fans support the players’ right to protest, but some have reacted negatively, booing or jeering players who kneel. In some cases, fans have burned team gear or threatened to boycott the NFL altogether.

Players kneeled or sat during the anthem at every NFL game in Week 3 of the 2018 season, and several teams stayed in their locker rooms while “The Star-Spangled Banner” was played. In response to the protests, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized players and called for them to be fired.

Some fans support the players’ right to protest

Some fans support the players’ right to protest, saying that it is their way of drawing attention to the issue of racial inequality in the United States. Others argue that the protests are disrespectful to the flag and the military, and that they should be directed towards other ways of effecting change. Some have even stopped watching NFL games altogether because of the protests.

Some fans stop watching NFL games altogether

Since 2016, some NFL players have been kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality. In response, some fans have stopped watching NFL games altogether.

Others have continued to watch, but say they are less interested in the NFL than they used to be. Some fans say they are more interested in the NFL because of the protests.

Some fans believe that the players should be required to stand for the anthem, while others believe that it is their right to protest.

What’s next for NFL players and their protests?

It’s been over a year since NFL players first starting kneeling for the national anthem, and the protests have continued on and off throughout the season. Some players have stopped kneeling, while others have been more vocal about their reasons for doing so. With the new season just around the corner, it’s time to take a look at what’s next for the NFL and its players.

Players continue to kneel

Since 2016, when quarterback Colin Kaepernick first took a knee during the national anthem to protest racial injustice, other NFL players have joined in the protests.

The movement spread to other sports, with athletes from the WNBA, MLB, and NHL following suit. But the NFL has remained the epicenter of the debate, with President Donald Trump weighing in repeatedly to urge team owners to fire players who kneel.

In May 2018, the NFL announced a new policy that requires all players on the field to stand during “The Star-Spangled Banner.” However, players are allowed to remain in the locker room if they choose. The rule was put on hold after the Players Association filed a grievance.

As of September 2018, several players are still kneeling during the anthem as a form of protest. It’s not clear what the future holds for these protests, but it’s clear that they have sparked a nationwide conversation about race and justice.

Players raise their fists

When Colin Kaepernick first took a knee during the national anthem in 2016, he was effectively ostracized by the NFL. Now, four years later, players are still kneeling in protest — but the league appears to be slowly changing its stance.

In 2020, several NFL players have raised their fists during the national anthem in a show of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Some players, like Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson, have even kneeled for the duration of the song.

While kneeling is no longer the taboo it once was, there are still many fans who object to any form of protest during the anthem. This was evident when two Miami Dolphins players were booed by their own fans for kneeling during a game in September 2020.

It remains to be seen what form protests will take in 2021 and beyond, but one thing is certain: The issue of player protests is not going away anytime soon.

Some players remain in the locker room during the anthem

It’s been two years since Colin Kaepernick first took a knee during the national anthem to protest against police brutality and racial inequality, and the issue of player protests has largely died down. But a small group of players continues to kneel or raise their fists during the anthem, and the issue was brought back into the spotlight when Nike made Kaepernick the face of its new ad campaign.

So what’s next for NFL players and their protests? Are they still kneeling for the national anthem?

The answer is complicated. While some players are still kneeling, others have chosen to remain in the locker room during the anthem. And many players have stopped protesting altogether.

Here’s a look at what some of the key players are doing:

Colin Kaepernick: The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback, who began the player protests in 2016, remains unsigned by an NFL team. He has said he will continue to fight for social justice even if it means sacrificing his football career.

Eric Reid: A former teammate of Kaepernick’s on the 49ers, Reid was one of the first players to join him in kneeling during the anthem. He signed with Carolina Panthers this offseason and has continued to kneel during the anthem. He has also been critical of NFL owners for not signing Kaepernick.

Malcolm Jenkins: The Philadelphia Eagles safety has been one of the most outspoken advocates for social justice among NFL players. He raised his fist during the anthem last season, but this season he has chosen to remain in the locker room during the anthem as part of a new initiative with other players to draw attention to social justice issues.