<P> In September 2017, U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking at a rally in Huntsville, Alabama, said NFL owners should fire players who kneel during the national anthem, and encouraged fans to walk out . Trump advised NFL owners to say "Get that son of a bitch off the field right now, out, he's fired . He's fired!" Trump called the players' protest "a total disrespect of our heritage ." He went on to say that new NFL safety rules meant to protect players from concussions are ruining the game . His statement came after new research indicates NFL players are at high risk for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) due to the likelihood of multiple head injuries . </P> <P> Although 70 percent of NFL players were black, Trump denied his criticism of the protesters was related to race . "This has to do with respect for our country and respect for our flag," he said . In the games immediately following Trump's statements, the protest gained broader participation when over 200 players sat or kneeled during the anthem, others linked arms with their teammates or raised fists, and three teams chose to stay in the locker room for the anthem . However, the response was more a reaction to Trump than Kaepernick's original protests of racial injustice . Reasons cited by players, owners, and coaches included supporting freedom of speech and opposing what they considered intimidation by Trump . Others said they took offense to Trump demeaning the integrity of their primarily African American colleagues, when a month earlier he had called some of the white nationalists who protested in Charlottesville, Virginia, "Very fine people". The reaction to Trump's remarks overshadowed other ongoing issues his administration was facing, including failed attempts at healthcare reform, the primary election loss of Trump - backed candidate Luther Strange for the Alabama seat in the U.S. Senate, recovery efforts for Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and Hurricane Harvey in Houston, and relations with North Korea over their nuclear and missile testing . </P> <P> Kaepernick began sitting during the national anthem at the start of the 2016 NFL preseason . His actions went unnoticed for two weeks before he was questioned by the media . In the 49ers' final 2016 preseason game on September 1, 2016, after talking to Boyer, Kaepernick opted to kneel during the U.S. national anthem rather than sit as he did in their previous games . He explained his decision to switch was an attempt to show more respect to former and current U.S. military members while still protesting during the anthem . Reid joined Kaepernick in kneeling during the national anthem during the final preseason game . Seattle Seahawks player Jeremy Lane also did not stand for the anthem during his final preseason game the same day, stating, "It's something I plan to keep on doing until justice is being served ." </P> <P> In Week 1, eleven NFL players joined Kaepernick's protests . Denver Broncos player Brandon Marshall knelt during the national anthem prior to the start of the Kickoff game, which was broadcast on NBC . The act of kneeling as protest has been referred to as "taking a knee". Kaepernick and Marshall were teammates at the University of Nevada . On September 11, Kansas City Chiefs player Marcus Peters raised his fist while the rest of the team interlocked their arms showing solidarity . Two members of the New England Patriots, Devin McCourty and Martellus Bennett, raised their fists on Sunday Night Football . The entire Seattle Seahawks team stood and interlocked arms . Jelani Jenkins, Arian Foster, Kenny Stills, and Michael Thomas of the Miami Dolphins all kneeled during the National Anthem . At the same time, a group of Jacksonville Jaguars players, led by cornerback Prince Amukamara, initially planned to join the protest but chose not to do so after photographs of Kaepernick wearing socks with a crude anti-police message during training camp were made public . </P>

When did the first football player take a knee