Did Any NFL Players Kneel During the National Anthem?

Many NFL players kneeled during the national anthem on Sunday in response to President Donald Trump’s remarks about the league.

Introduction

During the 2016 NFL season, then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick caused a stir when he began kneeling during the pregame national anthem to protest racial inequality and police brutality in the United States. His actions quickly sparked a nationwide conversation about racial injustice, as well as patriotism and respect for the American flag.

In the months that followed, several other NFL players joined Kaepernick in protesting during the anthem, and the movement continued to gain momentum. By the 2017 season, dozens of players were kneeling or otherwise demonstrating during the anthem on a regular basis.

This act of protest divided opinions sharply, with many people arguing that it was disrespectful to both the flag and military members who have fought for the country’s freedom. Others saw it as a powerful display of unity and solidarity among players, and an important statement about racial inequality in America.

The issue came to a head in September of 2017, when President Donald Trump called on NFL owners to fire any “son of a bitch” who kneels during the anthem. In response, even more players kneeled or locked arms in solidarity with those who had been protesting. The following week, more than 200 players knelt or stayed off the field during the anthem in what was likely the largest demonstration to date.

The protests have continued throughout the 2018 season, though they have largely been overshadowed by other issues facing the league, such as player safety and domestic violence.

What Happened?

On September 24, 2017, President Donald Trump made controversial remarks about NFL players who choose to kneel during the national anthem. Trump said that players who kneel during the anthem are “sons of bitches” who should be “fired.” The comments sparked a wave of protests from NFL players, who knelt or linked arms in solidarity during the national anthem the following week.

Why Did It Happen?

In August 2016, then-49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick sat on the bench during the national anthem before a preseason game. When asked about it later, he said, “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’s act of protest—which he repeated several times during the 2016 NFL season—sparked a national conversation about racial injustice and police brutality.

In the wake of Kaepernick’s protests, other NFL players began kneeling during the national anthem as well. Some said they were doing so in solidarity with Kaepernick; others said they were protesting police brutality and racial injustice more broadly.

In September 2017, President Donald Trump reignited the debate when he suggested that NFL players who knelt during the anthem should be fired. “Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a bitch off the field right now. He is fired,'” Trump said at a rally in Huntsville, Alabama.

In response to Trump’s comments, hundreds of NFL players knelt or linked arms during the national anthem before games in Week 3 of the 2017 season. Many also released statements denouncing Trump’s remarks.

How Did People React?

The short answer is no, no NFL players knelt during the national anthem in Week 1 of the 2020 season.

However, a handful of players did raise their fists during “The Star-Spangled Banner” to protest social injustice and police brutality. That includes Miami Dolphins wide receivers Kenny Stills and Albert Wilson, as well as former San Francisco 49ers safety Eric Reid.

It’s worth noting that all three of those players have been outspoken critics of President Donald Trump in the past. Stills and Wilson both kneeled during the anthem throughout the 2017 season, while Reid was one of the first players to kneel alongside Colin Kaepernick back in 2016.

Reid signed with the Carolina Panthers this offseason and was not on the field for their Week 1 game against the Los Angeles Rams. He did, however, raise his fist during thecoin toss.

Conclusion

The answer to this question is a resounding “no.” Not a single NFL player kneeled during the National Anthem in Week 1 of the 2017 season. This is in stark contrast to last season, when numerous players kneeled during the National Anthem to protest racial injustice and police brutality. The protests were started by then-49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, and they quickly caught on throughout the league. However, it appears that the protests have died down for now, at least among NFL players.