Four years ago, former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick knelt during the playing of the national anthem in protest of police brutality and social injustices in the United States. Several players across the league joined him but by 2019, few players were still protesting during the anthem.
Following the death of George Floyd and other instances of police brutality this year, it wouldn’t be surprising to see many NFL players protest this season. When asked about potential protests during his Zoom conference call on Tuesday, Broncos linebacker Von Miller referenced Kaepernick’s early demonstrations.
“I felt like I could have stood taller with Kaepernick at the time,” Miller said. “I felt like I could have supported Kaepernick a lot better at the time. I apologize for not being a stronger leader for Kaepernick at the time. The things that players are doing now, Kaepernick was doing four years ago. I felt like I — now in hindsight, I felt like I could have stood taller with Kaepernick and [former Denver linebacker] Brandon Marshall at the time.”
Miller was among the Broncos players who participated in a Black Lives Matter march in Denver earlier this offseason. When the season draws closer, Broncos players will likely meet to make a unified decision on possible protests.
“I feel like there are a lot of ways we can impact viewers on this subject and impact society on this subject,” Miller said. “I definitely reached out to all of my guys around the league. I reached and talked to all of the guys around the league on what’s the best way and what’s the best message to get out.
“Justin Simmons is huge with the social justice movement. I reached out to him and I’ll see exactly what he wants to do. Whatever it is, we’ll be united on the message that we have to put out.”
Last month, team president/CEO Joe Ellis said players have a right to protest.
“I’m going to respect — whatever it is that they decide to do — we’re going to stand by that as an organization,” Ellis said.
