President Trump continued his intimidation campaign against NFL players on Sunday morning. Trump tweeted that players who kneel during the national anthem, a silent protest against racism, should be fired.
If NFL fans refuse to go to games until players stop disrespecting our Flag & Country, you will see change take place fast. Fire or suspend!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2017
…NFL attendance and ratings are WAY DOWN. Boring games yes, but many stay away because they love our country. League should back U.S.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2017
Trump’s tweets double down on comments he made in a speech in Alabama on Friday, when he said that any player who protests racism during the national anthem — protests started by quarterback Colin Kaepernick before the 2016 season — was a “son of a bitch.”
NFL players, however, do not appear to be intimidated.
Players continued their protests throughout the day on Sunday, opting to kneel, sit, lock arms, and even avoid the field altogether during the national anthem.
Entire teams stayed in the locker room during the national anthem
The entire Pittsburgh Steelers team announced that it would not take the field for the national anthem at its 1:00 pm ET game against the Chicago Bears. After the anthem finished, Steelers players reemerged from the locker room to some boos in the crowd.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin reveals to @JamieErdahl that the team will not be participating in today's national anthem. pic.twitter.com/5zihPWQsMv
— NFLonCBS (@NFLonCBS) September 24, 2017
The Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks kicked off the slate of late games at 4:00 p.m. ET. Both teams opted to stay in the locker room during the national anthem, leaving the field empty of players.
No players on the field during the anthem for Titans vs. Seahawks pic.twitter.com/6NEEJA7h1B
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 24, 2017
The Seahawks players did not leave their absence up for interpretation; they released a powerful statement before the game explaining that they would “not stand for the injustice that has plagued people of color in this country.”
— Seattle Seahawks (@seahawksPR) September 24, 2017
Players knelt during the national anthem
Protests kicked off early on Sunday. During a game played in London between the Baltimore Ravens and the Jacksonville Jaguars that aired at 9:30 a.m. ET, numerous players knelt during the national anthem.
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 24, 2017
The trend continued during games that aired at 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. ET.
A number of players from the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos knelt in protest.
Love. Unity. Equality. #GoBills pic.twitter.com/tvlIqSc4tP
— Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) September 24, 2017
Kneeling/locking arms at Bills-Broncos game pic.twitter.com/pQHLwooBex
— Amanda Terkel (@aterkel) September 24, 2017
Von Miller among dozens of #Broncos players who kneeled for national anthem https://t.co/4r3SN7nKFv
by @NickiJhabvala pic.twitter.com/JjArqrqfhc— Denver Post Broncos (@PostBroncos) September 24, 2017
Many players from the New England Patriots took a knee.
Whole bunch of Patriots players are kneeling. There are some boos in the crowd pic.twitter.com/nLkc6TeQRh
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) September 24, 2017
Several Cleveland Browns and Tampa Bay Buccaneers players took a knee.
Several #Browns players lock arms, kneel for anthem pic.twitter.com/PhFBLDnm0d
— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) September 24, 2017
After @realDonaldTrump's comments, 2 @TBBuccaneers players kneel during anthem https://t.co/MDCQAsl9Lb pic.twitter.com/uQhIy6FdzP
— 10News WTSP (@10NewsWTSP) September 24, 2017
Los Angeles Chargers defensive ends Chris McCain and Melvin Ingram took a knee.
The Chargers locking arms during the national anthem. Melvin Ingram took a knee. Other players sat down. pic.twitter.com/V5ldQKfVq9
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) September 24, 2017
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Justin Houston knelt toward the bench and bowed his head.
#Chiefs LB Justin Houston kneels towards the bench during the Natuonal Anthem as several players kneel @KCStar pic.twitter.com/Gvg00ATuWT
— David Eulitt (@davidphotokc) September 24, 2017
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was the most prominent white player to kneel.
It's not an Aaron Rodgers or a Tom Brady, but Travis Kelce is the biggest name white player to have knelt today. #astart #ImWithKap pic.twitter.com/9WivA2NUzZ
— Simon Clancy (@SiClancy) September 24, 2017
The protests continued into the evening, as many Oakland Raiders players and a few players on Washington’s football team took the knee.
MANY #Raiders players and a few #Redskins players #takingaknee or sitting down during #anthem #takeaknee pic.twitter.com/JdWuk2oW5F
— Sahil Habibi (@ProgressVoice) September 25, 2017
Players (and some owners) linked arms during the national anthem
Others who did not kneel locked arms in an apparent show of support.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who had previously expressed support for the protests on social media, linked arms with his teammates.
Tom Brady is locking arms with his teammates pic.twitter.com/IbUjnlKGF2
— Mark Daniels (@MarkDanielsPJ) September 24, 2017
The Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants linked arms, with some players raising fists. At least three New York Giants players knelt during the anthem: Olivier Vernon, Landon Collins, and Damon Harrison.
Eagles & Giants link arms, raise fists & kneel during national anthem.#TakeTheKnee pic.twitter.com/ldFUEJZvqS
— jordan 🌹🌹 (@JordanUhl) September 24, 2017
The entire New York Jets team and Cincinnati Bengals team linked arms.
Unity. pic.twitter.com/puD77lwORk
— New York Jets (@nyjets) September 24, 2017
#Bengals players lock arms during national anthem before game against Packers. @Enquirer pic.twitter.com/5YhVVCgviH
— Kareem Elgazzar (@ElgazzarBLVD) September 24, 2017
Shahid Khan, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ owner and the only non-white owner in the league, linked arms with players. Khan participated in this expression of solidarity despite the fact that he previously donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration.
Jaguars’ owner Shad Khan: pic.twitter.com/aMO8cHDWYb
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 24, 2017
Dan Snyder, the owner of the Washington football team, also linked arms with players.
Washington owner Dan Snyder linked arms with players during the national anthem. pic.twitter.com/2ct2vnYdKt
— SB Nation (@SBNation) September 25, 2017
Players remained seated during the national anthem
A number of players on the New Orleans Saints remained seated as the anthem played.
A group of Saints players remains seated during the national anthem. pic.twitter.com/3NsTiiBWBK
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) September 24, 2017
At the Packers-Bengals game, most players linked arms. A few Packers — Kevin King, Martellus Bennett, and Lance Kendricks — also remained seated during the anthem.
Most #Packers stand linking arms during anthem. T. Montgomery kneels on sideline, L. Kendricks, K. King and M. Bennett all sit pic.twitter.com/INnIlf8MBj
— Chris Barriere (@chrisbarriereTV) September 24, 2017
Before their game against the Los Angeles Chargers, several Kansas City Chiefs players remained seated or knelt during the anthem, as some fans yelled at them to “stand up.”
A group of Chiefs players sitting during anthem, some fans on this side of Stub Hub Center yell "stand up" pic.twitter.com/mRWsyHCxyY
— Dennis Bernstein (@DennisTFP) September 24, 2017
The entire Oakland Raiders team sat down with their arms linked during the anthem.
Powerful image from FedEx Field where the majority of the @RAIDERS sat with arms locked during the national anthem. #TakeAKnee pic.twitter.com/hExQO0i6B5
— Jerry Bembry (@Jerrybembry) September 25, 2017
National anthem singers took a knee
In Detroit, at the Falcons-Lions game, the singer of the national anthem took a knee.
National anthem singer takes a knee at the #ATLvsDET game. pic.twitter.com/FnqxvhDji9
— JamesParkerSheffield (@JayShef) September 24, 2017
At the Seahawks-Titans game, national anthem singer Megan Lindsey took a knee at the end of the song — which she sang to a field empty of players as they waited in the locker room.
Seahawks-Titans national anthem singer Megan Lindsey took a knee at the end: pic.twitter.com/K5JZmptPBx
— SB Nation (@SBNation) September 24, 2017
Players showed their public support for Kaepernick
Miami Dolphins players showed their support for Colin Kaepernick — who, despite possessing superior talent to many quarterbacks on NFL rosters, has not been signed by a team this season — by donning “I’m with Kap” shirts.
Dolphins players are warming up in "I'm With Kap" shirts today.
(📷: @aldiazphoto, @JamesWalkerNFL) pic.twitter.com/FL8pE3mzU5
— SB Nation (@SBNation) September 24, 2017
This story has been updated throughout the day to include more information from Sunday’s football games.