--- description: Following San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick's national anthem protest, several NFL players have joined in solidarity title: NFL Players Join Colin Kaepernick in National Anthem Protest image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt95e36431e6dca24d/6988a4d8524fc00dacdf961b/colin-kaepernick-protest-obama.jpg?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Sports](/section/sports/) ## Sports Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Football](/tag/football/) ## Football Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # NFL Players Join Colin Kaepernick in National Anthem Protest by [Mahita Gajanan](/author/mahita-gajanan/) ## Mahita Gajanan Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Gajanan is an editor at TIME. Sep 12, 2016 11:48 AM CUT  Eric Reid #35 and Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers kneel on the sideline during the anthem, as free agent Nate Boyer stands, prior to the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, Calif., on Sept. 1, 2016. Eric Reid #35 and Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers kneel on the sideline during the anthem, as free agent Nate Boyer stands, prior to the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, Calif., on Sept. 1, 2016.Michael Zagaris—Getty Images by [Mahita Gajanan](/author/mahita-gajanan/) ## Mahita Gajanan Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Gajanan is an editor at TIME. Sep 12, 2016 11:48 AM CUT Several players in the NFL protested during the playing of the national anthem this weekend, [in solidarity](http://www.si.com/nfl/2016/09/11/national-anthem-protest-kneel-sit-players-list "undefined") with San Francisco 49ers quarterback [Colin Kaepernick](http://time.com/money/4479836/colin-kaepernick-jersey-sales-national-anthem/ "undefined"). On Sunday, ahead of the game between the Miami Dolphins and Seattle Seahawks, Dolphins running back Arian Foster, along with linebacker Jelani Jenkins, receiver Kenny Stills and safety Michael Thomas all kneeled during the anthem, a direct call to Kaepernick, who has [refused to stand](http://time.com/4469350/colin-kaepernick-national-anthem-protest/?iid=sr-link1 "undefined") during the national anthem before games in protest of the treatment of minorities in the U.S. In a statement the Dolphins said they respected their players’ right to protest. > [](https://twitter.com/MiamiDolphins/status/775064548906704897) On the other side of the field, the Seahawks linked arms and stood for the anthem. Last week, cornerback Jeremy Lane [sat out during the national anthem](http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/seahawks-cornerback-jeremy-lane-sits-during-national-anthem-in-oakland/ "undefined") in a similar act of protest to Kaepernick. Also on Sunday, Kansas City Chiefs Cornerback Marcus Peters [raised his fist](http://time.com/4486853/kansas-city-chiefs-marcus-peters-national-anthem/ "undefined") during the national anthem before a game against the San Diego Chargers as the Chiefs locked arms and stood together. Three New England Patriots players showed support during a late Sunday game, as tight end Martellus Bennett and safety Devin McCourty held their fists in the air after the national anthem played. Denver Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall lost an endorsement deal after kneeling during the national anthem on Thursday to support Kaepernick. The Air Academy Federal Union cut its endorsement deal with the player. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4486905/nfl-national-anthem-protest/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4486905/nfl-national-anthem-protest/"},"headline":"NFL Players Join Colin Kaepernick in National Anthem Protest","datePublished":"2016-09-12T11:48:38.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-23T00:31:16.038Z","description":"They are following Colin Kaepernick's protests","url":"https://time.com/4486905/nfl-national-anthem-protest/","keywords":["Football"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt95e36431e6dca24d/6988a4d8524fc00dacdf961b/colin-kaepernick-protest-obama.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Mahita Gajanan","jobTitle":"Gajanan is an editor at TIME.","url":"https://time.com/author/mahita-gajanan/"}],"articleSection":"Sports","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt95e36431e6dca24d/6988a4d8524fc00dacdf961b/colin-kaepernick-protest-obama.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"San Francisco 49ers v San Diego Chargers","caption":"Eric Reid #35 and Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers kneel on the sideline during the anthem, as free agent Nate Boyer stands, prior to the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, Calif., on Sept. 1, 2016.","creditText":"Michael Zagaris—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/sports/","name":"Sports"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/football/","name":"Football"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4486905/nfl-national-anthem-protest/","name":"NFL Players Join Colin Kaepernick in National Anthem Protest"}}]}] ```