Colin Kaepernick made headlines in the 2016 preseason when he sat on a bench during the National Anthem before a game. In the season that followed, and up through the current season, player protests during the national anthem have roiled a controversy that has touched NFL players, the league itself and even President Trump. Click through NBC News’ timeline for all that’s unfolded.
Colin Kaepernick receives W.E.B. Du Bois Medal at Harvard University, encourages more protests against racial injustice. Oct. 11
Miami Dolphin players Kenny Stills and Albert Wilson are only players to kneel during the National Anthem on the NFL’s opening sunday. Colin Kaepernick tweets “my brothers,” in support.
Trump tweets:
1. “The NFL players are at it again — taking a knee when they should be standing proudly for the National Anthem. Numerous players, from different teams, wanted to show their “outrage” at something that most of them are unable to define. They make a fortune doing what they love......”
2. “.....Be happy, be cool! A football game, that fans are paying soooo much money to watch and enjoy, is no place to protest. Most of that money goes to the players anyway. Find another way to protest. Stand proudly for your National Anthem or be Suspended Without Pay!”
Head coach Matt Patricia of the Detroit Lions interlocked arms with his players during the national anthem before the start of an NFL preseason game against the Raiders in Oakland.
NFL says it won’t punish players who took a knee or didn’t take field during national anthem.
Player demonstrations took place during the national anthem at several NFL preseason games.
In Philadelphia, Eagles’ safety Malcolm Jenkins and cornerback De'Vante Bausby raised their fists during the anthem, and defensive end Chris Long placed his arm around Jenkins' shoulder.
In Miami, Dolphins’ receivers Kenny Stills and Albert Wilson and defensive end Robert Quinn protested during the anthem. Stills and Wilson kneeled behind teammates lined up standing along the sideline. Quinn stood and raised his right fist
Colin Kaepernick tweeted “"My brother @kstills continued his protest of systemic oppression tonight by taking a knee," the tweet said. "Albert Wilson joined him in protest. Stay strong brothers!"
in Seattle, three Seahawks players ran into the team's locker room prior to the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner."
Defensive linemen Branden Jackson and Quinton Jefferson, and offensive lineman Duane Brown left the field following team introductions and before the start of the anthem. They returned to the sideline immediately after it concluded.
Malcolm Jenkins wears a T-shirt with a message about mass incarceration of people of color before a preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Philadelphia on Aug. 9.
Colin Kaepernick appeared with his legal team at the University of Pennsylvania to meet with an arbitrator, law professor Stephen Burbank, at a hearing over his collusion grievance against the NFL
NFL star Randy Moss, at his Hall of Fame induction, wears a tie with the names of 12 black people killed by police.
Ray Lewis was very vocal during his Hall of Fame speech, delivering a 33-minute-long plea about the importance of speaking up and taking on leadership roles in America.
Trump tweets: “At least 24 players kneeling this weekend at NFl stadiums that are now having a very hard time filling up. The American public is fed up with the disrespect the NFL is paying to our Country, our Flag and our National Anthem. Weak and out of control!”
Related: Trump claims kneeling players hurt NFL attendance. Facts say otherwise.
In a meeting with several owners, current and former players and league executives, Houston Texans owner Bob McNair said, “We can’t have the inmates running the prison.”
McNair received significant criticism and apologized for his comment.
In response, almost every player on the Texans kneeled during the national anthem.
Related: Most of NFL's Houston Texans Kneel During Anthem After Owner's Remark
Vice President Mike Pence walked out of an Indianapolis Colts game after players on the San Francisco 49ers kneeled during the anthem.
Related: VP Pence Walks Out of NFL Game Over Players' Kneeling Protest
Afterwards, Pence said in statement: “I left today’s Colts game because President Trump and I will not dignify any event that disrespects our soldiers, our flag or our National Anthem. … While everyone is entitled to their own opinions, I don’t think it’s too much to ask NFL players to respect the Flag and our National Anthem. I stand with President Trump, I stand with our soldiers, and I will always stand for oru Flag and our National Anthem.”
Trump followed up with a tweet of his own: “I asked @VP Pence to leave stadium if any players kneeled, disrespecting our country. I am proud of him and @SecondLady Karen.”
Jones was quoted in two tweets by Brandon George of The Dallas Morning News as saying: “If there is anything disrespecting the flag, then we will not play. Period. We’re going to respect the flag and I’m going to create the perception of it.
“We cannot in anyway give the implication that we tolerate disrespecting the flag. We know that there is a serious debate in this country about those issues, but there is no question in my mind, that the [NFL] and the Dallas Cowboys are going to stand up for the flag”
Related: Can Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones Bench a 'Disrespectful' Player?
This was the first time an NFL owner made any sort of public warning to players that protest the anthem.
On Monday Night Football, the Dallas Cowboys, including owner Jerry Jones, a friend of Trump’s, locked arms and took a knee together for a moment before standing up while the national anthem played.
Related: Jerry Jones Leads Cowboys in Taking a Knee Over Trump's National Anthem Comments
The Arizona Cardinals locked arms with members of the military during the anthem.
Following his comments in Alabama, Trump tweeted twice in the morning about the NFL claiming that if fans stopped going to games change would happen fast and that NFL ratings are down because of the anthem protests.
Tweet 1: “If NFL fans refuse to go to games until players stop disrespecting our Flag & Country, you will see change take place fast. Fire or suspend!”
Tweet 2: “…NFL attendance and ratings are WAY DOWN. Boring games yes, but many stay away because they love our country. League should back U.S.”
After seeing Trump’s comments and tweets, NFL owners, coaches and players demonstrated against the president.
Before the first game of the day, being played in London, almost two dozen players from the Jacksonville Jaguars and Baltimore Ravens kneeled as the national anthem was played, while those who did not – on both teams – locked arms, including Jaguars owner Shahid Khan.
All the players and coaches for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans, except for one Steeler player, stay in the locker room during the national anthem.
Related: NFL Players Link Arms, Kneel After Trump Criticizes Protests
Related: NFL Players Lock Arms, Kneel During National Anthem to Protest Trump
After scoring a touchdown, New York Giants’ wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. raised a fist in the end zone.
Players from the Indianapolis Colts, Detroit Lions, New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, Green Bay Packers, Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, New York Giants and Cleveland Browns also kneeled.
During an NFL game, Trump tweeted: “Great solidarity for our National Anthem and for our Country. Standing with locked arms is good, kneeling is not acceptable. Bad ratings!”
Later in the day, Trump tweeted: “Sports fans should never condone players that do not stand proud for their National Anthem or their Country. NFL should change policy.”
On Sunday Night Football, almost the entire Raiders team was kneeling and some Washington Redskins players were as well.
Marshawn Lynch sits during the national anthem in the Oakland Raiders’ preseason opener.
More NFL players issue support for Kaepernick and demonstrate during the national anthem, including Eagles’ Safety Malcolm Jenkins.
On the first Sunday of the 2016 season, NFL players on several teams – the Seahawks, Patriots, Chiefs and Dolphins – demonstrated during the national anthem. Some players linked arms, some raised closed fists and some knelt during the national anthem.
Kaepernick’s college teammate Brandon Marshall, a Denver Broncos linebacker, kneels during the NFL regular season opener, on national television.
After meeting with Nate Boyer, a former NFL long snapper and a Green Beret, and discussing anthem protests and how to conduct them in a way that showed more respect to U.S. military members, Kaepernick and teammate Eric Reid kneel for the first time to protest racial injustice in America during the 49ers’ last preseason game.
Kaepernick also pledges to donate $1 million to charities that work on solving racial issues.
Related: Colin Kaepernick Pledges $1 Million to Charity as Anthem Protest Spreads
“And as we talked about it, we came up with taking a knee, Kaepernick said. “Because there are issues that still need to be addressed and it was also a way to show more respect to the men and women who fight for this country.”
Seattle Seahawks Cornerback Jeremy Lane sat on the bench during the national anthem in support of Kaepernick and become the first player from another team to protest.
A photo posted to Twitter showing Kaepernick sitting attracted initial attention to his protest.
Kaepernick said he was protesting police brutality and people of color being oppressed.
“I am not looking for approval. I have to stand up for people that are oppressed,” Kaepernick said.
Colin Kaepernick begins his protests by sitting on the bench during the national anthem in the San Francisco 49ers’ first preseason game.