The NFL often disappoints with poor decision-making and lackluster responses to social issues. The same can be said for Super Bowl LIX and the death of the “End Racism” endzone.
Politics took center stage in one of the worst Super Bowls ever between the Kansas City Chiefs and the stacked Philadelphia Eagles. The NFL and those associated with the league botched nearly every decision they’ve made up until the Eagles’ confetti dropped.
“The Super Bowl is often a snapshot in time and the NFL is in a unique position to capture and lift the imagination of the country,” said NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy. “‘Choose Love’ is appropriate to use as our country has endured in recent weeks wildfires in Southern California, the terrorist attack here in New Orleans, the plane and helicopter crash near our nation’s capital and the plane crash in Philadelphia.”
Love is a broad but weak message. “End Racism” called out a huge societal issue we are still struggling with. “Choose Love” is more fit for the title of a song title or an Ad Council billboard.
The NFL began including “End Racism” in endzones after George Floyd was murdered by a Minnesota police officer in 2020. Those small but noticeable endzone sayings were spread throughout the league’s stadiums up until this year’s Super Bowl. While the league said it’s not true, it doesn’t take a genius to put two and two together.
“We also believe we are doing the right thing for the NFL and our policies are consistent with the current administration as well as the last administration,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
President Donald Trump attended the Chiefs and Eagles’ bout, making him the first sitting president to attend the Super Bowl. The NFL could have stopped the messaging earlier in the playoffs or next season but no, the league did it when Trump chose to attend.
The NFL has long been a league of double standards. Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick was blacklisted by white owners after taking a knee to protest against racism. Kaepernick left the league with a 72-30 passing touchdown to interception ratio, and an impressive 16 touchdowns to just four interceptions in his last season.
All that was worth nothing to NFL owners who seemed to prefer mediocre white quarterbacks throwing an equal number of touchdowns to interceptions instead of Kaepernick. One man’s NFL career was completely destroyed for supposedly disrespecting the military and the entire country, even though a veteran told him to kneel.
Yet, the league had no problem when Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker made a sexist rant or even appeared alongside Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, who’s known for egging on U.S. Capitol insurrectionists. The league also didn’t bat an eye when 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa interrupted a postgame interview wearing a MAGA hat besides issuing a tiny uniform fine.
The league has also made itself a sanctuary for the likes of accused abusers like Deshaun Watson, Justin Tucker, Chad Wheeler and a slew of other players. When news of Ray Rice being an abuser hit the news in 2014, the NFL made small pushes for a while before scrapping domestic violence trainings and sweeping the issue under the rug.
Despite all of its past transgressions, the NFL has recently showed support for diversity programs while Trump blames diversity, equity and inclusion efforts for America’s problems. The league has backed its Rooney Rule requiring teams to interview ethnic-minority coaching candidates.
“We got into diversity efforts because we felt it was the right thing for the National Football League and we’re going to continue those efforts,” Goodell said.
Yes, the Rooney Rule is an admirable effort but it hasn’t pushed the needle much. Even though than over half of the NFL is Black, only 19% of head coaches are black and that number only expands by another 10% when counting all head coaches from a minority group.
The NFL must learn it can’t have it both ways. The league can’t claim to care about social issues like racism while allowing a bigoted president, who also wants to invade our closest allies, to walk the sidelines. As a majority Black league, the NFL in particular can do so much better but most likely never will.
Replacing the endzone phrase shows the league has shifted its priorities. The NFL appears to be more interested in giving into the status quo instead of using its power for good. The league’s decisions are even more frustrating when comparing the league to others.
The NBA has invested in our country’s future with advancements like the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition to advance criminal justice, community safety, better policing and voting rights. Maybe it’s because NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has a backbone or maybe it’s because the NFL is afraid.
Leagues like the NFL are watched by tens of millions, and have the power to speak up on pressing issues. Some, like the NBA, have backbones and values. Some just bow down to the dollar.
The NFL’s latest decisions show the league is more interested in protecting its bottom line than speaking up for its players or fans. The reversal of the NFL’s 2020 initiative shows any other initiative could be rescinded like the domestic violence issue.
Nothing is safe in a league ready to jump ship when the tides turn. Don’t be surprised when the NFL flips the script again, I sure won’t be.
