Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers offered his first statement regarding the nationwide protests over police brutality and racism following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
On Instagram, Rodgers backed on-field player protests during the national anthem and provided his own opinion on how the country should move forward on racial issues.
From Rodgers: “A few years ago we were criticized for locking arms in solidarity before the game. It has NEVER been about an anthem or a flag. Not then. Not now. Listen with an open heart, let’s educate ourselves, and then turn word and thought into action.”
Rodgers’ words stand in stark contrast to the statement made by New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees on Wednesday. In an interview with Yahoo Finance, Brees said he would “never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America.” Players from around the NFL, including Saints teammates, have pushed back against Brees’ comments on social media.
Rodgers’ comments on Instagram echo what he said in an interview with The Ringer in 2018.
Asked about the protests by Kevin Clark, Rodgers said “it was never about the anthem, it was never about the troops, it was about social equality and racial injustice.”
