Skip to main content

NFL players will honor racism victims with names on helmet decals

When football season kicks off this fall, NFL players will be wearing helmet decals featuring the names of victims of systemic racism and police violence, a league source said.

Each week, teams will have a choice to honor one specific name or several names, a source told CNN. All 32 NFL teams will feature the decals.

It will be up to the players to determine which name or initials will be featured on the decals, the source said.

As social justice unrest has rocked the country in recent months, the league has been making its own efforts to confront racism, four years after Colin Kaepernick began to kneel on one knee during the pre-game National Anthem as a protest against systemic racism.

Without mentioning Kaepernick, a former player for the San Francisco 49ers, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said last month the league should have listened earlier to players’ concerns about racism.

That was in response to NFL players calling on the league to condemn racism and support its Black players.

Soon after Goodell’s comments, the NFL announced it would pledge $250 million over the next 10 years to help fight systematic racism.

Kaepernick, who’s been unsigned since 2017, last month said he’s joining the blogging platform Medium as a board member and contributor, creating stories about race and civil rights.

The 2020-21 season is scheduled to start September 10, with team training camps set for July 28.

How a former Terp almost got the Jets their first win

How a former Terp almost got the Jets their first win originally appeared on NBC Sports WashingtonThe New York Jets nearly picked up their first win of the season in Week 13, but a miraculous touchdown pass from Derek Carr in the final seconds helped the Las Vegas Raiders steal the victory away from New York.Still, it was an impressive performance by the Jets, a team that entered 0-11, to battle against a Las Vegas team that has its eyes set on the playoffs. A major reason New York remained competitive was because of former Maryland Terrapins running back Ty Johnson.Johnson entered the contest not expected to do much, but an early injury to veteran runner Frank Gore pushed Johnson into the forefront of the Jets' backfield. From there, Johnson made the most of his opportunity rushing for 104 yards on 22 carries. The performance was the best of his NFL career. The second-year pro also added a touchdown, which for a short period of time was the go-ahead score late in the fourth quarter to give the Jets a 28-24 lead. It was the first score of Johnson's professional career.Johnson originally made his mark at the University of Maryland from 2015-18. His best season came as a sophomore when he rushed for 1,004 yards and six touchdowns, but he was a big-play ace for the Terrapins his entire career.  A sixth-round pick of the Detroit Lions, Johnson has been unable to find many opportunities since entering the NFL. After being waived by Detroit and claimed by New York, maybe Johnson can establish himself down the stretch for the Jets with a potentially increased role in the coming weeks.
Read Next Story