When Did the NFL Start Playing the National Anthem?

The NFL has been playing the national anthem before games for decades, but when did this tradition start? We did some research to find out.

A Brief History of the National Anthem

In 1814, Francis Scott Key wrote a poem titled “Defence of Fort McHenry” after witnessing the successful American defense of Baltimore Harbor during the War of 1812. The poem was later set to music and became known as “The Star-Spangled Banner.” It wasn’t until 1931 that Congress officially recognize the song as the National Anthem.

The NFL has a long history of honoring the National Anthem. In 1918, several veteran players from World War I formed the American Legion to support returning soldiers. The organization held a “Salute to America” on October 17, 1920, which included a marching band playing “The Star-Spangled Banner.” This is believed to be the first time that the song was played at an NFL game.

During World War II, NFL games often featured military bands playing patriotic songs like “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “God Bless America.” After the September 11 terrorist attacks, the NFL began asking fans to participate in a moment of silence before games to remember those who lost their lives. Since then, many players have chosen to kneel or raise their fists during the National Anthem as a way to protest racial injustice.

The NFL and the National Anthem

The NFL has been playing the national anthem before games for many years now. However, it wasn’t always this way. Let’s take a look at how and when the NFL started playing the national anthem before games.

The NFL’s official policy

The NFL’s official policy regarding the national anthem is that players “should” stand, but are not required to do so. This has been the league’s position since 2009, when then-Commissioner Roger Goodell said that players “should” stand but stopped short of requiring it.

In May 2018, the NFL amended its policy to state that all players “must” stand during the national anthem, but gives them the option to remain in the locker room if they prefer. The new policy also allows players to express their views on social justice issues by kneeling or other means, as long as they do so before the anthem is played.

The NFL’s decision to change its policy was made in response to growing criticism from President Donald Trump and other conservatives, who argue that players who kneel during the anthem are disrespecting the flag and the military. The league has denied that its decision was influenced by political pressure from the Trump administration.

Players’ protests

In recent years, some NFL players have kneeled or raised fists during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” to protest racial injustice. These protests have generated significant controversy, with some people arguing that the players are disrespecting the flag and the military, while others argue that the players are exercising their right to free speech.

The first known instance of an NFL player protesting during the national anthem occurred in 2016, when then-49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick remained seated during the song. Kaepernick explained his decision by saying he wanted to bring awareness to police brutality and racial inequality.

Since then, other players have followed suit, and the issue has come to a head in recent weeks after President Donald Trump said that NFL owners should fire any “son of a bitch” who protests during the anthem. Trump’s comments led to an increase in protests, as well as calls for a boycott of the NFL.

The issue has divided fans, with some arguing that players should be required to stand for the anthem and others saying that they should be allowed to protest as they see fit. Ultimately, it is up to each individual team whether or not they require their players to stand for the anthem.

When Did the NFL Start Playing the National Anthem?

The NFL started playing the national anthem before games in 2009. Before that, it was up to individual teams to decide whether or not they wanted to play the anthem. The decision to start playing the anthem before games was made in an effort to promote patriotism and show support for the military. There has been some controversy surrounding the national anthem in recent years, but the NFL has continued to stand by its decision to play it before games.

Pre-game anthems

Though today it’s unthinkable for the NFL to start a game without the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” that was not always the case. In fact, it wasn’t until WWII that the tradition started.

Prior to WWII, it was common for NFL games to open with a military band playing “The Star-Spangled Banner” or “America the Beautiful.” But after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, support for the war effort became more prevalent throughout society, including in professional sports.

On October 7, 1941, the New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers became the first teams to play “The Star-Spangled Banner” before an NFL game. The tradition quickly caught on, and by 1942, all NFL teams were playing the anthem before games.

Interestingly, though “The Star-Spangled Banner” has been a pre-game staple ever since, it was not designated as the official national anthem of the United States until 1931. And it wasn’t until 2009 that Congress passed a resolution declaring that all professional sporting events should start with a performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

The first regular season game

The first regular season game in which “The Star-Spangled Banner” was played was on September 8, 1918, prior to a game between the Chicago Bears and the All-Stars. The song was played by a band from the Great Lakes Naval Training Station. The custom of playing the national anthem before games did not become widespread until World War II.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the NFL started playing the national anthem before games in 2009. This change came about due to the increase in patriotism following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The league continued to play the anthem before games as a way to show support for the country and its military.