This Sunday was unlike any other in the history of the NFL.
Players from teams across the league took action Sunday during the national anthem, responding to President Donald Trump’s statements during a rally in Alabama on Friday in which he said NFL players who don’t stand for the anthem should be fired. Trump was referring to the handful of NFL players, most notably former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and including Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett, who chose not to stand for the anthem as a protest against racial injustice in the country.
Players responded en masse on Sunday, with demonstrations ranging from kneeling during the anthem to locking arms in unity to remaining in the locker room.
The Seattle Seahawks were one of the teams that chose to stay in the locker room during the anthem. Before their game against the Tennessee Titans at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium the team issued a statement:
— Seattle Seahawks (@seahawksPR) September 24, 2017
The Titans also chose to remain in the locker room for the anthem:
Surreal scene here in Nashville as entire #Seahawks, Titans teams including coaches, staff, all players skip national anthem pic.twitter.com/UCdANOKdAV
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) September 24, 2017
A total of three teams remained in their locker rooms for the anthem on Sunday. The Pittsburgh Steelers were the other, though one player chose to emerge for the anthem:
Former Army Ranger Alejandro Villanueva stood outside the tunnel alone during the national anthem. pic.twitter.com/6KOZzSJj6q
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 24, 2017
This is an issue that has generated strong feelings on both sides of the discussion. What are yours?
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