<P> Jim Harbaugh, Kaepernick's former coach, penned a strong statement of support for him as part of Time's "100 Most Influential People" series . Harbaugh wrote, "His willingness to take a position at personal cost is now part of our American story . How lucky for us all and for our country to have among our citizens someone as remarkable as Colin Kaepernick ." </P> <P> NASCAR team owners Richard Petty and Richard Childress have supported Trump and said that they would fire drivers and employees who would not stand for the national anthem . Petty said, "Anybody that don't stand up for the anthem ought to be out of the country . Period ." Childress said, "It'll get you a ride on a Greyhound bus" if anyone on his team protested the anthem . Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., however, expressed support for the peaceful protests, quoting President John F. Kennedy, "Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable ." NASCAR released a statement on September 25 in response to the protests that said, "Sports are a unifying influence in our society, bringing people of differing backgrounds and beliefs together . Our respect for the national anthem has always been a hallmark of our pre-race events . Thanks to the sacrifices of many, we live in a country of unparalleled freedoms and countless liberties, including the right to peacefully express one's opinion ." </P> <P> Jemele Hill, an ESPN anchor who called Trump a "white supremacist" in a series of tweets earlier in the month, tweeted, "Just so we're clear: the president's comments will only incite more player protests, not quell them ." following Trump's initial response to the protests . Hill was later put on a two - week suspension for "a second violation of our social media guidelines", after Hill suggested people direct their disagreements towards advertisers of Dallas Cowboys owner, Jerry Jones, after Jones stated he would bench any player who protested the national anthem on October 9, 2017 . </P> <P> On September 25, 2017, Bill Russell posted a photo to Twitter while kneeling and wearing his Presidential Medal of Freedom . On September 26, 2017, Joey Odoms, the national anthem singer for the home games of the Ravens, resigned citing the "tone / actions of a large number of NFL fans in the midst of our country's cultural crisis". </P>

When did they start playing the national anthem in football