When Colin Kaepernick started taking a knee during the national anthem in 2016 to protest racial injustice, only a handful of teammates and players from across the NFL joined him.
Players, coaches and even some owners across the league, citing the killing of George Floyd and the eruption of protests that followed, are embracing Kaepernick’s signature protest as a way to support nationwide calls to end racism.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield, Redskins running back Adrian Peterson and Houston Texans coach Bill O’Brien have all pledged to take a knee this season.
The shift in attitudes comes as NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said earlier this month that the league was “wrong” to not listen to players about racism.