Professional Sports (2018)

Photo Credit: Kenny Stills' Instagram, @kstills

American Heroes: Professional Sports
Select Year: 2016 • 2017 • 2018
2018	Select: NFL


Name	Protest Date	Significant Notes
National Football League
Preseason
Kenny Stills Miami Dolphins	August 9, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem. Resumes protest started during the 2016 season and continued throughout the 2017 season as well. Still noted that he intends to take his protest into the regular season, and that it would take a lot for him to cease protesting. Still also intimated that he would continue until Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid are in the league.
Albert Wilson Miami Dolphins	August 9, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem. Protested during the 2017 season as well, though not its entirety.
Robert Quinn Miami Dolphins	August 9, 2018 SOURCE	Raised fist during the national anthem. Continues protest from 2017 season where he demonstrated until its conclusion. Quinn’s dedication to demonstrating during the anthem is grounded in his pride as a Black man, and in standing up for Black people in the face of systemic racism. He raises his fist to challenge the hypocrisy inherent in the ideals symbolized during the anthem.
Telvin Smith Jacksonville Jaguars	August 9, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem. Smith noted that it was a matter of his personal beliefs regarding his decision not to emerge from the locker room/tunnel during the national anthem. Said that he would make his decision on a week by week basis.
Leonard Fournette Jacksonville Jaguars	August 9, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem. Was focused on discussing the game, and only briefly mentioned that remaining of the feel was based on his beliefs.
Jalen Ramsey Jacksonville Jaguars	August 9, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem. Ramsey was not at his locker for comment. Though a subsequent GQ interview raises questions about the purpose behind his decision to remain in the locker room.
T.J. Yeldon Jacksonville Jaguars	August 9, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem. Simply stated that he did not want to come out during the anthem.
Malcolm Jenkins Philadelphia Eagles	August 9, 2018 SOURCE	Raised fist during the national anthem. Resumes protest from last season, which he ended following the NFL’s essential $90M quid pro quo deal to encourage players not to protest. States that he struggles with the decision whether to demonstrate during the anthem.
De’Vante Bausby Philadelphia Eagles	August 9, 2018 SOURCE	Raised fist during the national anthem.
Michael Bennett Philadelphia Eagles	August 9, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem. Resumed his protests from the 2017 season, though in slightly different form. He remained seated during the anthem for the duration of the 2017 season.
Marquise Goodwin San Francisco 49ers	August 9, 2018 SOURCE	Raised fist during the national anthem. Resumes protest from the 2017 season where he’d knelt during the national anthem beginning in October 2017 and continued to do so for its entirety.
A.J. Francis New York Giants	August 9, 2018 SOURCE	Raised fist at the end of the anthem.
Duane Brown Seattle Seahawks	August 9, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem. Continued protest conducted for a short period during the 2016 season, and during most of the 2017 season. Stated that the basis of his protest is the racial injustice and police brutality in America, but decided not to kneel or sit this year.
Quinton Jefferson Seattle Seahawks	August 9, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem. Continued protest conducted for most of the 2017 season. Stated that he will not stand during a ritual which does not reflect what he believes in.
Branden Jackson Seattle Seahawks	August 9, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem. Continued protest conducted for most of the 2017 season.
Marshawn Lynch Oakland Raiders	August 10, 2018 SOURCE	Remained seated during the national anthem. Continues demonstration from the 2017 season where Lynch protested for its entire duration.
Brandon Marshall Denver Broncos	August 11, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off the field during the national anthem. Resumed protest conducted for limited periods during both the 2016 and 2017 seasons.
Demaryius Thomas Denver Broncos	August 11, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem. Engaged in a protest during the anthem on September 24, 2017, along with hundreds of other players, following President Donald Trump’s offensive comments on player protests during a rally on September 22, 2017.
Russell Okung Los Angeles Chargers	August 11, 2018 SOURCE	Raised fist during the national anthem. Resumes protest which he’d commenced in October of the 2017 season, and continued for its duration. Also last season, Okung wrote a letter published on the Player’s Tribune website urging his fellow players to organize themselves in opposition to owners’ attempts to force them to stand during the anthem.
Malcolm Jenkins Philadelphia Eagles	August 16, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem. Changed posture from the previous week where he raised a fist during the anthem.
De’Vante Bausby Philadelphia Eagles	August 16, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem. Changed posture from the previous week where he raised a fist during the anthem.
Michael Bennett Philadelphia Eagles	August 16, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Albert Wilson Miami Dolphins	August 17, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem.
Robert Quinn Miami Dolphins	August 17, 2018 SOURCE	Raised fist during the national anthem.
Brandon Marshall Denver Broncos	August 18, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Demaryius Thomas Denver Broncos	August 18, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Russell Okung Los Angeles Chargers	August 18, 2018 SOURCE	Raised fist during the national anthem.
Duane Brown Seattle Seahawks	August 18, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Quinton Jefferson Seattle Seahawks	August 18, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Branden Jackson Seattle Seahawks	August 18, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Marquise Goodwin San Francisco 49ers	August 18, 2018 SOURCE	Raised fist during the national anthem.
Telvin Smith Jacksonville Jaguars	August 18, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Malcolm Jenkins Philadelphia Eagles	August 23, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Michael Bennett Philadelphia Eagles	August 23, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Brandon Marshall Denver Broncos	August 24, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Demaryius Thomas Denver Broncos	August 24, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem. Addressed criticism of his decision to remain off of the field during the national anthem, citing racism and injustice as the bases of his decision.
Kenny Stills Miami Dolphins	August 25, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem.
Albert Wilson Miami Dolphins	August 25, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem.
Marshawn Lynch Oakland Raiders	August 25, 2018 SOURCE	Remained seated during the national anthem.
Robert Quinn Miami Dolphins	August 25, 2018 SOURCE	Raised fist during the national anthem.
Jalen Ramsey Jacksonville Jaguars	August 25, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem. Was suspended last week for reasons unrelated to protest during the national anthem.
Telvin Smith Jacksonville Jaguars	August 25, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Kenny Stills Miami Dolphins	August 30, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem.
Albert Wilson Miami Dolphins	August 30, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem.
Robert Quinn Miami Dolphins	August 30, 2018 SOURCE	Raised fist during the national anthem.
Malcolm Jenkins Philadelphia Eagles	August 30, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Michael Bennett Philadelphia Eagles	August 30, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Brandon Marshall Denver Broncos	August 30, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Demaryius Thomas Denver Broncos	August 30, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Marshawn Lynch Oakland Raiders	August 30, 2018 SOURCE	Remained seated during the national anthem.
Duane Brown Seattle Seahawks	August 30, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Quinton Jefferson Seattle Seahawks	August 30, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Branden Jackson Seattle Seahawks	August 30, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Week 1
Michael Bennett Philadelphia Eagles	September 6, 2018 SOURCE	This demonstration was rather ambiguous as Bennett walked around during the anthem, and sat down towards the end. Given his cery clear protests during the anthem throughout last season and even during the preseason, we will err on the side of protest.
Kenny Stills Miami Dolphins	September 9, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem. Kaepernick demonstrated support on social media for Still and Wilson, noting their resilience in the face of attacks.
Albert Wilson Miami Dolphins	September 9, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem. Kaepernick demonstrated support on social media for Still and Wilson, noting their resilience in the face of attacks.
Robert Quinn Miami Dolphins	September 9, 2018 SOURCE	Raised fist during the national anthem.
Brandon Marshall Denver Broncos	September 9, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Demaryius Thomas Denver Broncos	September 9, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Duane Brown Seattle Seahawks	September 9, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Quinton Jefferson Seattle Seahawks	September 9, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Marquise Goodwin San Francisco 49ers	September 9, 2018 SOURCE	Raised fist during the national anthem.
Russell Okung Los Angeles Chargers	September 9, 2018 SOURCE	Raised fist during the national anthem.
Marshawn Lynch Oakland Raiders	September 10, 2018 SOURCE	Remained seated during the national anthem.
Week 2
Kenny Stills Miami Dolphins	September 16, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem. Stills noted that he will continue to protest, stating that activism is not something one starts and then quit.
Albert Wilson Miami Dolphins	September 16, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem.
Robert Quinn Miami Dolphins	September 16, 2018 SOURCE	Raised fist during the national anthem.
Michael Bennett Philadelphia Eagles	September 16, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Russell Okung Los Angeles Chargers	September 16, 2018 SOURCE	Raised fist during the national anthem.
Marquise Goodwin San Francisco 49ers	September 16, 2018 SOURCE	Raised fist during the national anthem.
Brandon Marshall Denver Broncos	September 16, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Demaryius Thomas Denver Broncos	September 16, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Marshawn Lynch Oakland Raiders	September 16, 2018 SOURCE	Remained seated during the national anthem.
Duane Brown Seattle Seahawks	September 17, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Quinton Jefferson Seattle Seahawks	September 17, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Week 3
Michael Bennett Philadelphia Eagles	September 23, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Kenny Stills Miami Dolphins	September 23, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem.
Albert Wilson Miami Dolphins	September 23, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem.
Robert Quinn Miami Dolphins	September 23, 2018 SOURCE	Raised fist during the national anthem.
Russell Okung Los Angeles Chargers	September 23, 2018 SOURCE	Raised fist during the national anthem.
Duane Brown Seattle Seahawks	September 23, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Quinton Jefferson Seattle Seahawks	September 23, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Week 4
Michael Bennett Philadelphia Eagles	September 30, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Kenny Stills Miami Dolphins	September 30, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem.
Albert Wilson Miami Dolphins	September 30, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem.
Robert Quinn Miami Dolphins	September 30, 2018 SOURCE	Raised fist during the national anthem.
Duane Brown Seattle Seahawks	September 30, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Quinton Jefferson Seattle Seahawks	September 30, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Branden Jackson Seattle Seahawks	September 30, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem. Branden Jackson had been released and placed on the practice squad, but was recently signed by the Seahawks. He then resumed protests along with teammates Brown and Jefferson.
Marquise Goodwin San Francisco 49ers	September 30, 2018 SOURCE	Raised fist during the national anthem.
Week 5
Eric Reid Carolina Panthers	October 7, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem. Reid noted that his return to the league is bittersweet given that his close friend Colin Kaepernick is not in the NFL.
Kenny Stills Miami Dolphins	October 7, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem.
Albert Wilson Miami Dolphins	October 7, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem.
Robert Quinn Miami Dolphins	October 7, 2018 SOURCE	Raised fist during the national anthem.
Michael Bennett Philadelphia Eagles	October 7, 2018 SOURCE	Remained seated during the national anthem. This is a change from his previous protest method this season, which was to remain off of the field.
Duane Brown Seattle Seahawks	October 7, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Quinton Jefferson Seattle Seahawks	October 7, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Branden Jackson Seattle Seahawks	October 7, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Week 6
Eric Reid Carolina Panthers	October 14, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem. Reid noted that it was important for him to empower Black people. Some and fans players stated that they felt proud and emboldened to have Reid in their locker room.
Kenny Stills Miami Dolphins	October 14, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem.
Albert Wilson Miami Dolphins	October 14, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem.
Robert Quinn Miami Dolphins	October 14, 2018 SOURCE	Raised fist during the national anthem.
Marquise Goodwin San Francisco 49ers	October 15, 2018 SOURCE	Raised fist during the national anthem.
Week 7
Russell Okung Los Angeles Chargers	October 21, 2018 SOURCE	Raised fist during the national anthem.
Eric Reid Carolina Panthers	October 21, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem. A physical altercation between Eric Reid and Malcolm Jenkins took place during the pre-game. The rift was reportedly over the fallout over the Players Coalition which Jenkins spearheaded and which Reid left because Reid felt the Coalition had accepted a bribe from the NFL last season in the form of $90M to cease demonstrations during the anthem. Following the game, Reid stated that he believes Jenkins “sold out” and capitalized on the situation and should have stepped up for Colin Kaepernick who was not centered during NFL Coalition negotiations.
Kenny Stills Miami Dolphins	October 21, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem.
Albert Wilson Miami Dolphins	October 21, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem.
Robert Quinn Miami Dolphins	October 21, 2018 SOURCE	Raised fist during the national anthem.
Week 8
Robert Quinn Miami Dolphins	October 25, 2018 SOURCE	Raised fist during the national anthem. Teammates Kenny Still and Albert Wilson, who regularly kneel during the anthem, were injured and did not travel to Houston.
Duane Brown Seattle Seahawks	October 28, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Quinton Jefferson Seattle Seahawks	October 28, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Branden Jackson Seattle Seahawks	October 28, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Eric Reid Carolina Panthers	October 28, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem. Reid expounded on the altercation between him and Malcolm Jenkins, providing great detail regarding the “bribe” the NFl offered in exchange for players not to protest.
Week 9
Kayla Morris San Francisco 49ers Gold Rush	November 1, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem. Kayla Morris becomes the first professional sports cheerleader to demonstrate during the national anthem.
Eric Reid Carolina Panthers	November 4, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem.
Kenny Stills Miami Dolphins	November 4, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem.
Robert Quinn Miami Dolphins	November 4, 2018 SOURCE	Raised fist during the national anthem.
Week 10
Eric Reid Carolina Panthers	November 8, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem.
Kenny Stills Miami Dolphins	November 11, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem.
Albert Wilson Miami Dolphins	November 11, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem.
Robert Quinn Miami Dolphins	November 11, 2018 SOURCE	Raised fist during the national anthem.
Kayla Morris San Francisco 49ers Gold Rush	November 12, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem.
Week 11
Eric Reid Carolina Panthers	November 18, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem. Teams that generally include protesters were on a bye this week, incl the Miami Dolphins and the San Francisco 49ers.
Week 12
Eric Reid Carolina Panthers	November 25, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem.
Duane Brown Seattle Seahawks	November 25, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem. Returned to demonstrating during the anthem after refraining from doing so for two weeks in honor of Salute to Service games.
Quinton Jefferson Seattle Seahawks	November 25, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem. Returned to demonstrating during the anthem after refraining from doing so for two weeks in honor of Salute to Service games.
Branden Jackson Seattle Seahawks	November 25, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem. Returned to demonstrating during the anthem after refraining from doing so for two weeks in honor of Salute to Service games.
Week 13
Eric Reid Carolina Panthers	December 2, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem.
Week 14
Eric Reid Carolina Panthers	December 9, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem.
Kenny Stills Miami Dolphins	December 9, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem.
Kayla Morris San Francisco 49ers Gold Rush	December 9, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem.
Week 15
Duane Brown Seattle Seahawks	December 16, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Quinton Jefferson Seattle Seahawks	December 16, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Branden Jackson Seattle Seahawks	December 16, 2018 SOURCE	Remained off of the field during the national anthem.
Kenny Stills Miami Dolphins	December 16, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem.
Eric Reid Carolina Panthers	December 17, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem.
Week 16
Eric Reid Carolina Panthers	December 23, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem.
Kenny Stills Miami Dolphins	December 23, 2018 SOURCE	Knelt during the national anthem.
Robert Quinn Miami Dolphins	December 23, 2018 SOURCE	Raised fist during the national anthem.
Week 17
Robert Quinn Miami Dolphins	December 30, 2018 SOURCE	Raised fist during the national anthem.

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