This season, the NFL is once again allowing players and teams to show their support for social justice.
Players can once again wear social justice messaging on their helmets and teams can add messaging to the field and goalposts as part of the league’s Inspire Change platform.
“We are committed to Inspire Change and the social justice work that inspires change for the long term,” said Anna Isaacson, NFL senior vice president of social responsibility, to The Associated Press.
Players can choose from six messages: “End Racism,” “Stop Hate,” “It Takes All of Us,” “Black Lives Matter,” “Inspire Change” and “Say Their Stories.”
Teams will stencil “It Takes All of Us” and “End Racism” in the end zones.
In addition, teams will also bring back the “Say Their Stories” initiative. It will not be inclusive of individuals identified by players for their commitment to social justice.
Another new addition this is season is that teams will highlight their social justice work during a regular-season home game in Weeks 17 and 18.
“That will provide a unified time frame for us to further amplify all of the work that our clubs are doing and that will lead into the playoffs where Inspire Change will continue to take center stage,” said Isaacson. “The key message for us as the season is starting, we are ramping up again in a big way with our social justice work.”
For weeks 17 and 18, the clubs will be provided with applicable banners, goalpost wraps, stencils, helmet decals, and graphics for video boards.
The initiative will be extended into the postseason as well.
