<P> The protests began in the National Football League (NFL) after San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick sat and later kneeled during the anthem, before his team's preseason games of 2016 . Throughout the 2016 season, members of various NFL and other sports teams have engaged in similar silent protests . On September 24, 2017, the NFL protests became more widespread when over 200 players sat or kneeled in response to Donald Trump's calling for owners to fire the protesting players . </P> <P> On May 23, 2018, the NFL Commissioner and the NFL team owners 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 . </P> <P> It is a tradition in the United States to play The Star - Spangled Banner, the national anthem, before sporting events . Those present are expected to stand at attention with right hand over heart . National Football League (NFL) players were not mandated to be on the field for the playing of the national anthem until 2009 . It is also noteworthy this tradition did not acquire prominence as an official act until the twenty - first century . The NFL has stated that "players are encouraged but not required to stand during the playing of the National Anthem"; its game operations manual reads that players "should stand" for the anthem . </P> <P> Americans are divided on the intended meaning of the anthem . Some believe it salutes military and police officers who have died on duty; for others, it honors the United States generally . Kaepernick and his 49ers teammate Eric Reid say they choose to kneel during the anthem to call attention to the issues of racial inequality and police brutality . "After hours of careful consideration, and even a visit from Nate Boyer, a retired Green Beret and former NFL player, we came to the conclusion that we should kneel, rather than sit,...during the anthem as a peaceful protest," said Reid . "We chose to kneel because it's a respectful gesture . I remember thinking our posture was like a flag flown at half - mast to mark a tragedy ." Kneeling is by some considered disrespectful to those who have died or been wounded in service of the United States, such as police officers or military veterans . Torrey Smith, a wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles said in an interview "I understand why people are offended by people protesting the National Anthem . My father served 25 years . When he dies, he's going to be wrapped in an American flag . But my dad is also out of the Army, and he drives trucks all over the country, and he's a black man everywhere he goes, and sometimes he has racial incidents still today . That doesn't protect him, just because he served our country . And I think that's important ." </P>

When did nfl start standing for the anthem