Sunday was a memorable day around the NFL, to say the least.
Following Donald Trump’s recent condemning of national anthem protesters, players and teams across the league came to their respective games ready to take a stand. Whether they were kneeling, locking arms, or not taking the field at all, players made sure the biggest stories from Week 4 occurred before kickoff.
Here are some of the sights and sounds to emerge from a polarizing day for the NFL:
From @Lions owner Martha Firestone Ford: pic.twitter.com/s7kdc7YruL
— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) September 24, 2017
Statement from our Owner Shad Khan: pic.twitter.com/bbAJKpqZ3w
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) September 24, 2017
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 24, 2017
Statement from Owner Steve Bisciotti. pic.twitter.com/bdKWJ4UpCy
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) September 24, 2017
Patriots players kneel during national anthem, booed by Gillette Stadium crowd pic.twitter.com/5mxrS1mXqV
— Nick O'Malley (@nickjomalley) September 24, 2017
#Texans lock arms during National Anthem pic.twitter.com/46AOTQOnvO
— Mark Berman (@MarkBerman_) September 24, 2017
Whole bunch of Patriots players are kneeling. There are some boos in the crowd pic.twitter.com/nLkc6TeQRh
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) September 24, 2017
"I believe love is the greatest thing we have," says Tom Brady, saying it can help overcome a lot of things.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) September 24, 2017
https://twitter.com/SInow/status/912000464757121024
https://twitter.com/SInow/status/912001508744601600
Sports is a common denominator in our world.
We have the responsibility to use this platform to promote understanding, respect & equality. https://t.co/Y8UgDvW4o5
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) September 24, 2017
Dolphins safety Michael Thomas started breaking up when talking about Trump calling him "a son of a b!tch." pic.twitter.com/Z4wroPcvzW
— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) September 24, 2017
— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) September 24, 2017
#Jets all stood for the anthem, and owner/CEO Christopher Johnson locked arms with Josh McCown and Jamal Adams.
— Dennis Waszak Jr. (@DWAZ73) September 24, 2017
People follow courage.
Inside the postgame locker room 🎥 pic.twitter.com/X5lqVM48w4
— New York Jets (@nyjets) September 24, 2017
https://twitter.com/cyvonne1229/status/911999078623531008
Here's what Doug Pederson said last year about the possibility of joining a team-wide demonstration. #Eagles pic.twitter.com/OEI2xCpZmZ
— Dave Zangaro (@DZangaroNBCS) September 24, 2017
Statement from Zygi and Mark Wilf and the entire Wilf family. pic.twitter.com/1YeAaKyjaW
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 24, 2017
https://twitter.com/GoesslingStrib/status/911998070077845504
Statement from Chicago Bears Chairman George H. McCaskey. pic.twitter.com/36u9aboXOO
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 24, 2017
Anthem in Tennessee without players on sidelines. pic.twitter.com/q2LeOyzXaN
— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) September 24, 2017
Statement from Dee and Jimmy Haslam pic.twitter.com/QvCmKPkKwc
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 24, 2017
Bigger than football. pic.twitter.com/3nMzaCdOhx
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) September 24, 2017
At least 20 #Browns players knelt during the national anthem at #Colts game pic.twitter.com/YJjJqqYpZY
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) September 24, 2017
Mike Tomlin. No players behind him. pic.twitter.com/GYR0M4EyvR
— Eric Edholm (@Eric_Edholm) September 24, 2017
No Steelers were on the sideline during the anthem.
LT Alejandro Villanueva, a veteran who served in the Army, stood near the tunnel. pic.twitter.com/JOviLUAtiF
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 24, 2017
Statement from @HoustonTexans Founder, Chairman and CEO Robert C. McNair: pic.twitter.com/sF78Sc4hdg
— Houston Texans PR (@TexansPR) September 24, 2017
Saints statement pic.twitter.com/E6qNlciZSO
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 24, 2017
Saints WR Brandon Coleman raises his fist after scoring a touchdown. pic.twitter.com/v9IZ1sCTLd
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) September 24, 2017
Rams owner E. Stanley Kroenke: pic.twitter.com/iHmL8ARSYv
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 24, 2017
— Seahawks PR (@seahawksPR) September 24, 2017
https://twitter.com/MikeKlis/status/911997988704329728
Melvin Ingram kneeled for Anthem. #Chargers players locked hands. #Chiefs yelled traditional chant. pic.twitter.com/ADy9o6J7uL
— Annie Heilbrunn (@annieheilbrunn) September 24, 2017
Members of the Chiefs sit in protest during the National Anthem before an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, via @AP pic.twitter.com/cDCJzo69Lw
— KCTV5 News (@KCTV5) September 24, 2017
#Bengals and #Packers link arms for Anthem. @ENQSports pic.twitter.com/hyOuHApys7
— Sam Greene (@SGdoesit) September 24, 2017
Perhaps the most ironic part about all of this is that anthem protests reportedly were near extinction after Week 1.
But after what took place Sunday, it appears “The Star-Spangled Banner” once again will be a focal point throughout the season.
Now, with so much going on across the league, surely Trump must’ve seen some of the action, right?
Honestly, your guess is as good as ours.
Thumbnail photo via Eric Hartline/USA TODAY Sports Images
