NFL announces new policy requiring players to stand for National Anthem

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced a new policy Wednesday that the league’s personnel and players will have to stand for the national anthem.

About the NFL National Anthem policy

The new policy serves as a reaction to the backlash against those who took a knee to protest against police brutality and injustices toward Black people.

NFL statement

A statement from Goodell said team owners unanimously agreed that the NFL can fine a team whose players protest during the National Anthem and that each team will define its own rules regarding players who want to take a knee.

The policy also gives players the option to remain in the locker room if they don’t want to stand.

Previously, there had been no rule that prevented players from protesting.

“It was unfortunate that on-field protests created a false perception among many that thousands of NFL players were unpatriotic,” Goodell said. “This is not and was never the case.”

Colin Kaepernick

Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during the national anthem in 2016. He has yet to be offered a contract and has filed a grievance against the NFL accusing owners of colluding against him for the protest.