In its latest effort to politicize professional football, the NFL may allow players to show the names of people who have been killed by police officers on their helmets, OutKick reported.
“Per a source with knowledge of the situation, players may display the names of victims of police violence and/or systemic racism on the padding along the bottom of the backs of their helmets,” journalist Mike Florio reported Sunday, without revealing his source.
If the plan progresses, players would be allowed to put the names on the back at the bottom, padded part of their helmets, where the team name is oftentimes displayed.
Players will have to choose from a pre-approved list of names, but the NFL has not said how these names will be selected.
The NFL has not said whether they will allow the names of convicted violent criminals, such as George Floyd, to be displayed as a symbol of racial justice.
Florio speculated that the list would include Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery.
Roger Goodell, who previously resisted the push to turn the NFL into a social justice league, has embraced Black Lives Matter and its demand.
He said he should have “listened earlier” to Colin Kaepernick about the reasons that he was “kneeling.”
Patrick Mahomes, a quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs and a leader in the Black Lives Matter movement, said he has spoken with Goodell, Fox News reported.
“I feel like it’s been positive,” Mahomes said. “I’ve got to talk to Goodell, I’ve talked to other guys around the league and obviously now it’s about action.”
