- NFL commissioner regrets not listening to Colin Kaepernick
- League has since issued apology for failing to support protests
Roger Goodell, the commissioner of a league in which more than two-thirds of players are black, says he was unaware of the extent of social injustice in the United States when players began protesting against police brutality and racism.
In 2018, under Goodell’s leadership, the NFL introduced a ban on players protesting during the national anthem. In June of this year, the league issued an apology for not listening to its players earlier after a wave of protests following the police killing of George Floyd. During an appearance on Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man, a video series with former NFL player Emmanuel Acho, Goodell explained why he had changed his stance on protests.
Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man: The National Anthem Protest- PT. 1
NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell, & I discuss Colin Kaepernick & the protests during the national anthem that polarized America. pic.twitter.com/PcL02732ys
