It starts with a simple request to please rise.
The stadium goes quiet, or at least as quiet as 70,000 people fueled by overpriced light beer and adrenaline can get. Then comes the music. For decades, the national anthem and the NFL were basically synonymous with a bathroom break or a final chance to check your fantasy lineup before kickoff. It was just background noise. Until it wasn't.
Honestly, if you go back forty or fifty years, the "tradition" looked a lot different. Players weren't even required to be on the field for the anthem until 2009. Think about that for a second. For the vast majority of the league's history, guys were in the locker room getting their ankles taped or screaming at each other while the song played outside. It wasn't some ancient, sacred mandate. It was a production choice.
Then 2016 happened.
The Colin Kaepernick Shift
When Colin Kaepernick first sat down—and later took a knee—during "The Star-Spangled Banner," he didn't just start a conversation. He blew the doors off the hinges. He told NFL Media’s Steve Wyche, "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color." That quote changed the league forever. Suddenly, those two minutes of music became the most scrutinized 120 seconds in American television.
People lost their minds. Some fans burned jerseys in their driveways. Others saw him as a modern-day Muhammad Ali. The NFL, a multi-billion dollar machine that usually hates controversy more than anything, didn't know how to react. They fumbled. They zig-zagged.
It’s easy to forget that Kaepernick actually started by sitting. It was Nate Boyer, a former Green Beret and NFL long snapper, who suggested the kneeling posture. Boyer wrote an open letter in the Army Times and eventually met with Kaepernick. He suggested kneeling was more respectful—a gesture used by soldiers at a fallen comrade's grave. It was supposed to be a compromise. Instead, it became a lightning rod for the most intense cultural debate of the decade.
The NFL Policy Rollercoaster
The league's front office in New York is famous for trying to please everyone and usually ending up pleasing no one. In 2018, they tried to pass a rule that would fine teams if players didn't stand. They said players could stay in the locker room if they didn't want to participate.
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That lasted about five minutes.
The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) immediately filed a grievance. The policy was shelved. Why? Because the league realized you can't force "patriotism" without looking like a corporate villain.
By 2020, following the murder of George Floyd, Commissioner Roger Goodell did a complete 180. He admitted the league was wrong for not listening to players earlier. He basically gave the green light for peaceful protest. Now, you see "End Racism" in the end zones and players wearing names of victims of police brutality on their helmets. The relationship between the national anthem and the NFL had moved from a rigid ritual to a platform for social messaging.
Breaking Down the "Paid Patriotism" Rumor
You've probably heard that the Department of Defense pays the NFL to play the anthem. This is one of those things that’s half-true but mostly misunderstood.
A 2015 report from Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake revealed that the Pentagon had spent millions on "pro-sports marketing." This included things like flyovers, color guards, and "hometown hero" segments. It wasn't necessarily paying the league to play the song itself, but it was paying for the pageantry surrounding it. The military calls it a recruiting tool. Critics called it "paid patriotism."
Once the report went public, the NFL actually returned about $724,897 that was deemed "inappropriate" for those tributes. Nowadays, the league says it doesn't take money for these specific displays, but the ties between the military and football remain deep.
Why This Debate Still Sticks
The reason we still argue about the national anthem and the NFL isn't just about football. It’s about how we define being an American.
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To one side, the anthem is a moment of unity. It's about honoring the people who died for that flag. When a player takes a knee, they see it as a direct insult to the military. It feels personal.
To the other side, the anthem is a reminder of the gap between American ideals and American reality. They argue that there is nothing more patriotic than using your freedom of speech to demand that your country live up to its promises.
There’s no middle ground here. That’s why it’s so loud.
Does the Anthem Belong in Sports?
If you go to a movie theater, do you sing the anthem? What about when you walk into an Apple Store? Probably not.
The history of the anthem in sports dates back to the 1918 World Series during World War I. There was a sense of national anxiety, and playing the song provided a brief moment of solidarity. It stuck. By World War II, it was standard practice.
Some people argue we should just stop playing it at domestic sporting events altogether. They say it’s weird to mix competitive entertainment with nationalistic fervor. But the NFL is a "Shield" for a reason. It’s wrapped in the flag. Taking the anthem out of the pre-game would be like taking the mustard off a hot dog—some people would love it, but the traditionalists would burn the place down.
The Economic Impact
Did the protests hurt the NFL's bottom line?
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For a while, the ratings dipped. In 2017, viewership was down about 10%. Pundits claimed the "woke" NFL was dying.
They were wrong.
By 2023 and 2024, the NFL’s TV ratings were hitting record highs. The Super Bowl basically owns the top 20 most-watched broadcasts in history. Fans might complain on Twitter, and some might even stop watching for a season, but the pull of the Sunday afternoon game is too strong. The league proved that it could survive a massive cultural rift and come out richer on the other side.
What Actually Happens Now?
If you watch a game today, the "controversy" has mostly cooled into a dull simmer. Some players still stay in the tunnel. Some kneel. Most stand. The cameras usually pan across the line, show a few flags, a flyover, and then we go to a commercial for a truck or a betting app.
The league has successfully "institutionalized" the protest. By allowing it and adding their own social justice slogans, they've taken the edge off. It’s harder to rebel against the machine when the machine is wearing a "Justice for All" t-shirt.
Key Dates in Anthem History:
- 1918: First notable use of the anthem at a sporting event (World Series).
- 2009: NFL players are moved from the locker room to the field for the anthem.
- 2016: Kaepernick sits, then kneels.
- 2017: President Trump calls for protesting players to be "fired," leading to league-wide demonstrations.
- 2020: Commissioner Goodell officially supports players' right to protest.
- 2021-Present: The "Lift Every Voice and Sing" (often called the Black National Anthem) is played alongside "The Star-Spangled Banner" at major games.
Looking Forward
The national anthem and the NFL will likely always be linked. It’s part of the brand. But the way we perceive it has changed. We've moved past the idea that the anthem is a neutral, "politics-free" zone. It's a mirror. Whatever you feel about the country, you're going to see it reflected in those two minutes before the coin toss.
If you're heading to a game or just watching from your couch, keep an eye on the sidelines. The gestures are smaller now, but the meaning is still there.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Observers
If you want to understand the nuance here instead of just shouting at your screen, consider these steps:
- Check the History: Read Nate Boyer’s original letter. It provides a massive amount of context on why "kneeling" was chosen over "sitting." Understanding the intent vs. the perception is the first step in a real conversation.
- Follow the Money: Look into the "Inspire Change" initiative. The NFL has committed $250 million over ten years to social justice causes. This was a direct result of the anthem protests. You can track where that money goes—education, criminal justice reform, and economic empowerment.
- Respect the Space: Whether you stand, sit, or go get a beer, remember that the person next to you might have a very different, very personal reason for their choice. The stadium is one of the few places left where people of all political stripes actually sit together.
- Watch the Broadcasts: Notice how the networks handle the anthem. Do they show the players? Do they go to a commercial? The way the media "packages" the anthem tells you a lot about the current political climate and what the league is afraid of at any given moment.
The debate isn't going away. It's just evolving. The NFL is a microcosm of America—loud, complicated, and constantly fighting with itself over what it means to be a patriot.