<P> In Week 8 at Seattle, the majority of the Texans players kneeled during the anthem after Houston owner Bob McNair had commented about having the "inmates running the prison" during a league owner meeting regarding the ongoing protest . McNair had apologized, stating that he was not referring to the players, but rather to the "relationship between the league office and team owners ." It was the first time a Texans player had knelt during the anthem . </P> <P> On May 23, 2018, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and all NFL team owners except for two owners that abstained from voting in a show of hand voting process, approved a new policy requiring all players to stand during the national anthem or given the option to stay in the locker room during the national anthem . Any players from all NFL teams who protest the anthem while on the field will become subject to discipline from the league . In addition, the teams as a whole will be subject to punishment and other forms of discipline from the NFL as a result . </P> <P> In disagreement with the policy, several players on the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles indicated they would decline an invitation from Trump to visit The White House on June 5, leading the President to rescind the offer only hours before . </P> <P> Seattle Reign FC and U.S. women's national soccer team player Megan Rapinoe knelt during the national anthem in a game on September 5, 2016, explaining that her decision was a "nod to Kaepernick and everything that he's standing for right now". In a subsequent match at the Washington Spirit, Spirit owner Bill Lynch--anticipating Rapinoe's protest--moved the national anthem's performance without warning or notice to occur before the players' appearances on the pitch . Jeff Plush, the league's commissioner, was present at the game and told reporters that he was unaware of Lynch's plans and disagreed with the act of moving the anthem's performance . The Spirit's players issued a joint statement also disagreeing with Lynch's decision to move the anthem without first consulting the team's players or coaches . </P>

When did the nfl start playing the anthem