NFL’s Goodell Endorses Peaceful Protests by Players

One of the most divisive issues in sports reignited late Friday, as NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the league encourages players to “speak out and peacefully protest” shortly after President Trump revived his criticism of players who have knelt in the past during the national anthem.

The Wall Street Journal reports the high-stakes exchange came against the backdrop of national protests against police brutality that have engulfed the U.S. since George Floyd was killed by police in Minneapolis last month. The nationwide protests have hit close to home for the NFL, which for years has been deeply divided after players, led by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, protested racial injustices by kneeling during the national anthem.

Trump campaigned against the NFL in 2017 during what turned out to be the league’s most tumultuous season in memory. Kaepernick hasn’t played since the end of the 2016 season, and he has long accused the league of colluding against him because of his political views.

We, the NFL, condemn racism and the systematic oppression of Black People. We, the NFL, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest. We, the NFL, believe Black Lives Matter. #InspireChange pic.twitter.com/ENWQP8A0sv

— NFL (@NFL) June 5, 2020

The issue has blown up again in the aftermath of Floyd’s killing, which has brought the issue to the fore again in the NFL. On Friday afternoon, Trump weighed in after one of the league’s most prominent players, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, apologized for earlier comments that took issue with players protesting during the anthem.

Brees had told Yahoo Finance, “I will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America or our country.” But he quickly reversed course after coming under attack by teammates and others including basketball star LeBron James. In his apology, Brees said his comments were insensitive.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether Goodell was encouraging players to kneel during the national anthem, therefore endorsing the action that three years ago deeply divided the league.