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# The NFL’s National Anthem Non-Policy

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<!-- video src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/IB6HsmNQ.m3u8" -->
## Video: The NFL’s National Anthem Non-Policy

[Watch (HLS stream): The NFL’s National Anthem Non-Policy](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/IB6HsmNQ.m3u8) (3:22)

![The NFL’s National Anthem Non-Policy](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/IB6HsmNQ/poster.jpg?width=720)

_Published 2018-09-12. New Nike ad featuring Kaepernick puts the NFL in an awkward spot._


---

Jul 28, 2023 12:32 AM UTC

---

## More From This Series

[All Videos](https://time.com/video/)

[NFL’s Coaching Carousel Candidates](/video/GM46neCk/)

### NFL’s Coaching Carousel Candidates

[Roger Goodell Says the NFL Will Not Force Players to Stand for the National Anthem](/video/GhIk3xgP/)

### Roger Goodell Says the NFL Will Not Force Players to Stand for the National Anthem

[NFL, Players React to Trump's Comments on National Anthem Protests](/video/iCLdv7pF/)

### NFL, Players React to Trump's Comments on National Anthem Protests

---


## Transcript

[ MUSIC ] The 2018 NFL season marked several updates to the rule bob, but one glaring omission was the implementation of a National Anthem policy. As it stands, the NFL will not have a policy this season that requires players to stand during the pre- game ceremonies The league has been grappling with how to handle the anthem rules since 2016 when then 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began a social movement by first sitting, then kneeling during the National Anthem of a pre- season game to protest police brutality and racial injustice. During the third week of the 2017 season President Donald Trump incited league wide demonstrations after he targeted protesting players at an Alabama rally saying this.

Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners when somebody disrespects our flag to say get that son of a bleep off the field right now out he's fired. He's fired! League owners have been in talks with the NFL Players Association regarding the demonstrations that have yet to reach a compromise. A public statement released on Twitter last month the NFLPA said they remain committed to working together on solutions. Earlier this year NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced a policy requiring all players on the field to stand during the National Anthem. And players can choose to remain in the locker room if they preferred.

But the decision was put on hold after it was met with backlash from both fans and athletes alike. League owners are reportedly divided on the issue and players are looking to shift th overall rhetoric around the movement. During the first week of this year's season ten players protested and only two Miami Dolphins receivers, Kenny Stills and Albert Wilson, took a knee throughout the anthem. That's a sharp contrast to last season where over 200 players took part in demonstrations. Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins, who stopped taking a knee, said players are trying to move past the rhetoric of what's right or what's wrong, in terms of the anthem, and really focus on the systematic issues that are plaguing our communities.

While the movement of on- field protests seemed to be waning, Seattle Seahawks lineman and protester Duane Brown said he hasn't received any message to dial it down from the NFLPA. The NFL's non- policy comes in the wake of a Nike ad campaign featuring Colin Kaepernick. Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything. The ad, which has given Nike a 31 % increase in sales since its release, has also been met with fierce criticism online and offline. With some going so far as burning their Nike apparel. Trump called the ad a terrible message. The President also criticized the NFL's television ratings, pointing blame to networks' decision to not televise the National Anthem.

But this is not the first time athletes have protested during the National Anthem. In what would become one of the most famous political protests in the history of sports Medalist Tommy Smith and John Carlos raised their fists to the sky during the anthem at the 1968 Olympics. And four years later Vince Matthews and Wayne Collett were banned from the Olympics for not the flag during their medal ceremony. While the anthem policy remains largely unsolved for the NFL, Brown believes the protests continue to be relevant saying, the country hasn't moved on from it, so I'm not going to move on from it, either.

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