All of the Pittsburgh Steelers players stayed in their locker room as the national anthem was played ahead of their game with the Chicago Bears as NFL teams responded to criticism from United States President Donald Trump.
At a rally in Alabama, Trump had delivered a scathing attack on NFL players who opt to kneel in protest when the Star-Spangled Banner is played, claiming team owners should sack those players and that fans should leave the stadium if they see it.
And on Sunday, NFL players used the national anthem to show their defiance to Trump’s criticism, with at least 100 players kneeling or sitting in protest while the Steelers stayed in the locker room.
The Pittsburgh Steelers side of the field was empty while the US national anthem was played
The Chicago Bears lined up together while the Star-Spangled Banner was played on Sunday
Steelers offensive tackle Alejandro Villanueva remained in the tunnel during the anthem
Earlier on Sunday at Wembley, the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Baltimore Ravens defied Trump and knelt during the anthem at Wembley on Sunday.
Only the Steelers coaches, including head coach Mike Tomlin, were on the field for the anthem.
Tomlin had earlier told CBS: ‘These are very divisive times for our country. For us as a football team it’s about us remaining solid. We’re not going to be divided by anything said by anyone and that’s the thing that I posted to our guys.
‘I said, ‘If you feel the need to do anything, I’m going to be supportive of that’. As Americans we have that right. But whatever we do, we’re going to do 100 per cent, we’re going to do together. We’re not going to let divisive times or divisive individuals affect our agenda.
‘This collection of men, we’re chasing something here in 2017, and we’re not going to play politics.
‘We’re football players, coaches, we’re not participating in the anthem today. Not to be disrespectful to the anthem, (but) to remove ourselves from the circumstance.
Only the Steelers coaches, including head coach Mike Tomlin, were on the field for the anthem
‘People shouldn’t have to choose, if a guy wants to go about his normal business and participate in the anthem, he shouldn’t be forced to choose sides. If a guy feels the need to do something he shouldn’t be separated from his team-mate who chooses not to. So we’re not participating today. That’s our decision.’
At Wembley, more than a dozen players took a knee as their national anthem played. Those who did not kneel linked arms, including Jaguars owner Shad Khan, who stood between Marcedes Lewis and Telvin Smith on the sidelines.
Khan, who also owns Championship football club Fulham, has previously donated one million US dollars to Trump’s presidential inauguration.
Shortly after the contest got under way at Wembley, the Ravens posted a message on Twitter which read: ‘We recognise our players’ influence. We respect their demonstration and support them 100 per cent. All voices need to be heard. That’s democracy in its highest form.’
Donald Trump recently said that NFL players who kneel during the anthem should be sacked
The Jaguars tweeted a photo of Khan standing arm in arm with Lewis and Smith with the caption ‘Unity’.
Trump had followed up Friday night’s comment with a tweet the following day criticising NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who had called the president’s comments ‘divisive’.
On Sunday Trump took to social media again prior to kick-off at Wembley.
‘If NFL fans refuse to go to games until players stop disrespecting our Flag & Country, you will see change take place fast. Fire or suspend!’ he wrote from his account @RealDonaldTrump.
‘…NFL attendance and ratings are WAY DOWN. Boring games yes, but many stay away because they love our country. League should back U.S.’
More than 20 NFL players kneeled during the American national anthem at Wembley
This picture shows some of the Jaguars players kneeling down at England’s national stadium
Those who responded by taking a knee in London included high-profile stars like Terrell Suggs, Malik Jackson and Calais Campbell.
Further protests were expected back in the States across the later slate of games.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, one of the league’s most recognisable figures, put a photo on Instagram on Sunday afternoon of him kneeling alongside team-mates during a warm-up with the caption: ‘£unity £brotherhood £family £dedication £love’.
Away from the NFL, the NHL champions Pittsburgh Penguins said they planned to go ahead with a visit to the White House later this year.
‘Any agreement or disagreement with a president’s politics, policies or agenda can be expressed in other ways,’ a statement read. ‘However, we very much respect the rights of other individuals and groups to express themselves as they see fit.’
At least 100 players kneeled or sat in protest, with the Steelers staying in their locker room
Furthermore, the Tennessee Titans joined the Seattle Seahawks in deciding not to come out for the national anthem.
The Seahawks announced nearly 30 minutes before kick-off that they would not stand for the national anthem because they ‘will not stand for the injustice that has plagued people of color in this country.’
The Titans followed 10 minutes later by saying they will remain in the locker room during the national anthem. They posted a statement on their website noting they want to be unified as a team with the players deciding jointly that staying inside was the best course of action.
The team also said their commitment to the military and community is ‘resolute’ and that ‘the absence of our team for the national anthem shouldn’t be misconstrued as unpatriotic.’
Seattle has been one of the more outspoken teams in professional sports on social issues, led by Michael Bennett, Richard Sherman and Doug Baldwin.