What NFL Teams Are Kneeling During the National Anthem?

A look at which NFL teams are kneeling during the national anthem, and why they’re doing it.

Introduction

Since 2016, NFL players have been kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial injustice. The movement began with then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who kneeled during the anthem to highlight these issues.

Other players soon followed suit, and the protests became a topic of national conversation. President Donald Trump has been a frequent critic of the protests, calling for players to be fired or suspended.

So far in 2018, several NFL teams have had players kneel or raise their fists during the anthem. Here’s a look at which teams have been involved in the protests this season.

NFL Teams That Have Kneeled

In 2016, then-49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the pre-game national anthem to protest against police brutality and racial inequality. His act of peaceful protest sparked a nationwide movement, with other players joining in to kneel during the anthem. Here is a list of NFL teams that have joined in the protest.

San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in the San Francisco Bay Area. They compete in the National Football League as a member of the league’s National Football Conference West division. The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and joined the NFL in 1949 when the leagues merged. The 49ers were the first major league professional sports franchise based in San Francisco.
The team is headquartered in Santa Clara.

Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league’s National Football Conference (NFC) West division. They joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team, along with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Seahawks are owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and are currently coached by Pete Carroll. Since 2002, the Seahawks have played their home games at CenturyLink Field (formerly Qwest Field), located south of downtown Seattle. The Seahawks previously played home games in the Kingdome (1976–1999) and Husky Stadium (1994, 2000–2001).

On September 24th, 2017, The Seattle Seahawks participated in a form of protest started by then San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Colin Kaepernick. All but one player on the field for the Seahawks kneeling during the pregame playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner”, including Defensive End Michael Bennett, Linebacker Bobby Wagner, and Quarterback Russell Wilson link arms while standing behind those that elected to kneel.

Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins were one of the first NFL teams to kneel during the National Anthem in protest of racial inequality in America. The Dolphins kneeled before their game against the New York Jets on September 11th, 2016, and have continued to kneel during the National Anthem ever since. Dolphins players have said that they will continue to kneel until they feel that meaningful change has been made in America when it comes to racial equality.

Reasons For Kneeling

unarmed black men, women, and children have been killed by police officers. In 2016, Colin Kaepernick, then a quarterback for the San Francisco ers, began kneeling during the national anthem as a way to protest these deaths. 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.”Other NFL players soon joined Kaepernick in kneeling or raising a fist during the national anthem, and the protest has continued into the 2018 season.

Social Injustice

The act of kneeling during the national anthem has been a source of controversy in the United States for many years. The practice was started by Colin Kaepernick, a former NFL quarterback, in 2016 as a way to protest social injustice and police brutality against minorities. Since then, several other NFL players have joined him in kneeling during the anthem as a form of protest.

The controversy erupted once again in 2017 after President Donald Trump criticized NFL players who kneel during the anthem, calling them “son[s] of bitches” and saying they should be fired. This led to even more players kneeling or protesting in other ways during the anthem, and the issue became a major topic of debate across the country.

There are many different reasons why NFL players may choose to kneel during the national anthem. Some do it to protest social injustice and police brutality, as Kaepernick originally did. Others do it to show solidarity with teammates or fellow protesters. Still others do it to make a statement about racial inequality in America more broadly. Whatever the reason, it is clear that kneeling during the anthem has become a powerful form of protest for many NFL players.

Racism

The national anthem protests that have spread throughout the NFL and other professional sports leagues over the past year have been motivated by a variety of factors, but the central issue has always been racism.

Players who have chosen to kneel or sit during “The Star-Spangled Banner” have cited the oppression of black Americans as the reason for their action. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who began the movement last year, said he was “not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.”

Other players have echoed Kaepernick’s sentiment, sharing personal stories of how they or their loved ones have been impacted by racism. Many also believe that President Donald Trump’s rhetoric has exacerbated racial tensions in the United States, and they see their protests as a way to fight back against his policies and statements.

In some cases, teams have also joined in on the protests, with some players linking arms in solidarity while others kneel. These demonstrations have come under fire from Trump and other critics, who argue that they are disrespectful to the military and the country. But those involved maintain that they are exercising their right to free speech and peacefully protesting against injustice.

Police Brutality

One of the main reasons that NFL teams are kneeling during the national anthem is to protest police brutality. African Americans have been disproportionately affected by police brutality, and many feel that kneeling during the anthem is a way to show solidarity with those who have been affected. In addition, many feel that police brutality is a symptom of a larger problem of systemic racism, and that kneeling is a way to call attention to this issue.

Conclusion

After much discussion and debate, it has been decided that NFL teams will be allowed to kneel during the National Anthem if they so choose. This decision was made in order to allow players to express their beliefs and opinions in a peaceful and non-violent manner. It is hoped that this will help to bring about unity and understanding between all people, regardless of their backgrounds or beliefs.