Minnesota Vikings running back Ameer Abdullah took a knee during the national anthem in 2017 as a member of the Detroit Lions.
Fighting systemic racism and police brutality is a cause he couldn't look away from then, and he wasn't going to allow the protest started by Colin Kaepernick to fade just because the quarterback was looking for a job.
There's also the fact he plays in the most-watched sports league in the United States, a stage that holds a rapt audience for seven hours every Sunday during the season plus, typically, three prime-time appearances per week.