NFL commissioner Roger Goodell released a statement on behalf of the league on Friday acknowledging “we were wrong” in handling the issue of player protest.
Goodell’s message arrives after 10 days of protests and civil unrest in cities nationwide in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death and a call from prominent black NFL players to make a statement.
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.