Here Are The NFL Teams And Players Who Stood Up To Trump By Kneeling Down Sunday

By Josh Helmuth

President Trump made quite the splash in the sports world this weekend. Before revoking Steph Curry’s invite to the White House, he proceeded to admonish NFL players who have refused to stand during the National Anthem.

Here’s a quick recap of our president’s tweets.

During a rally, our president also said the NFL should “fire them son of a bitch” anthem protesters.

This is how the NFL responded on Sunday.

Dozens of players from nearly every team took a knee while many others locked arms.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, the face of the sport, stood with his hand over his heart, while also locking an arm with a teammate. Brady wouldn’t discuss his stance on the politics of Sunday or his actions, simply saying he locked arms because of the love for his teammates.

President Trump seemed to have given a thumbs up to those who locked arms.

The Titans, Seahawks and Steelers simply stayed in the locker room during the Anthem.

The only Steelers player who came out for the Anthem – Army veteran and offensive tackle Alejandro Villanueva.

Bills running back LeSean McCoy continued his stretching during the Anthem.

Here’s what the NFL had to say in response to Trump’s remarks.

Possibly the most eye-popping response came from Patriots owner Robert Kraft, a known Trump supporter.

What can we take from all this? This social protest isn’t going away any time soon; it’s spreading to other sports. And the president can thank himself for it.

The L.A. Sparks walked off the court before the Anthem today. And an A’s rookie was the first in baseball to take a knee.

On the other end of the spectrum, Richard Petty said he would fire anyone who takes a knee in NASCAR.

In my opinion, the most reasonable response to come out of all this came from hall-of-fame quarterback Kurt Warner.

Josh Helmuth is the editor of Crave Sports. 

Photo: Getty

NFL protest

  • The Broncos

    The Broncos

    ORCHARD PARK, NY - SEPTEMBER 24: Denver Broncos team take a knee during the national anthem during their game against the Buffalo Bills on September 24, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, NY. (Photo by John Leyba/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

  • In Detroit

    In Detroit

    DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 24: Members of the Detroit Lions take a knee during the playing of the national anthem prior to the start of the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Ford Field on September 24, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)

  • Jaguars in London

    Jaguars in London

    LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 24: Jacksonville Jaguars Owner Shahid Kahn links arms with his team as some players take a knee during the National Anthem during the NFL match between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Baltimore Ravens at Wembley Stadium on September 24, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mitchell Gunn/Getty Images)

  • The Patriots

    The Patriots

    FOXBOROUGH, MA - SEPTEMBER 24: New England Patriots players take a knee during the national anthem before the start of a game against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., Sept. 24, 2017. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

  • Texans in New England

    Texans in New England

    FOXBORO, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 24: Members of the Houston Texans kneel before a game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on September 24, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)

  • The Bills in Buffalo

    The Bills in Buffalo

    ORCHARD PARK, NY - SEPTEMBER 24: Buffalo Bills players kneel during the American National anthem before an NFL game against the Denver Broncos on September 24, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)

  • Broncos take a knee

    Broncos take a knee

    ORCHARD PARK, NY - SEPTEMBER 24: Kneeling during the national anthem before the Denver Broncos play the Buffalo Bills in week 3 at New Era Stadium, Orchard Park, NY. (Photo by Joe Amon/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

  • The Dolphins

    The Dolphins

    EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 24: Several of the Miami Dolphins take a knee during the National Anthem prior to the start of a regular season NFL game between the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets on September 24, 2017, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. (Photo by David Hahn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

  • The Browns

    The Browns

    INDIANAPOLIS, IN - SEPTEMBER 24: Cleveland Browns take a knee and join arms during the NFL game between the Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts on September 24, 2017, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

  • The Chiefs in LA

    The Chiefs in LA

    CARSON, CA - SEPTEMBER 24: Justin Houston #50 of the Kansas City Chiefs is seen taking a knee during the National Anthem before the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at the StubHub Center on September 24, 2017 in Carson, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

  • In D.C.

    In D.C.

    LANDOVER, MD - SEPTEMBER 24: Samaje Perine #32 and Chris Carter #55 of the Washington Redskins hold hands as they stand and kneel in unison during the national anthem before playing against the Oakland Raiders at FedExField on September 24, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Josh Helmuth
Josh Helmuth

Josh is originally from the small berg of Arthur, Ill, proudly the Amish capital of the state. It also has one hell of a pumpkin patch.

Josh has enjoyed dipping his toes into a variety of careers since graduating from the University of Alabama, the most rewarding thus far having served as a youth director in southern California for four years, and his broadcasting career which has garnered two Emmy awards and three Edward R. Murrow Awards.  

Josh enjoys loud rock music, Tom Hanks movies, dogs that like to cuddle and long runs. He is also always in search for America's greatest cheeseburger. Follow him here if you would like to be friends!

Share article

TRENDING
Related
X