The NFL Players Association and the league have been part of a continuous dialogue these past weeks regarding daily COVID-19 testing, preseason games, and safety protocols for the season and though there have been breakthroughs in those talks, it seems as though the two parties have also been discussing a different issue as well.
According to ESPN and The Undefeated’s Jason Reid, sources have reported that the league is planning to allow players to bear the names of victims of police violence and systemic racism during games this season in the form of helmet decals.
Players will be permitted to have decals on the back of their game helmets and have the option to choose the names or initials they will have on them.
The source said that the NFL and the NFLPA have been in talks for the past months over the possible initiative to honor the victims of social injustice. In addition, the league plans to play “Lift Every Voice and Sing” before each week 1 game. The song is traditionally recognized as the Black national anthem.
A final agreement is still being waited on but this development is a welcome breakthrough because the league has historically not allowed these types of messages within games except for its November salutes to the military and the October NFL Crucial Catch program in line with the fight against breast cancer. NFL players are also allowed to represent a cause of their choice on their cleats on one weekend per season.
Though somewhat of a surprise, the players union’s multiple month campaign deserves credit for getting this on the table.
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