New York Giants head coach Joe Judge, wearing an FDNY hat, reflected on the September 11th attacks 19 years later during a Friday Zoom conference will reporters.
Although Judge was thousands of miles away in the South when the attacks on New York, Washington and Pennsylvania occurred, he can now see the city skyline, sans the World Trade Center towers, from his office.
While addressing his team on the anniversary of the attacks, Judge reminded his players that it’s not about what happened on 9/11, but how society and the country as a whole responded.
“This is always a significant day in American history. We talked to the team about it this morning,” Judge said. “Today’s a day we need to have an appreciation for what everybody does and the sacrifices they make. We can’t forget what happened … People have to remember. It’s not just a day. There were actions taken that day that brought this country closer together.
“You watched the way the city of New York came together in a crisis. It’s a significant day. The first responders are there and have our back.”
Judge added that we can never forget what happened on 9/11, but the memory of the unparalleled unity should help us “get us past a lot of this crap we’re dealing with right now.”
Judge was, of course, referring to the political and racial division currently plaguing the country and manifesting itself in mass protests and violent riots.
The Giants will decide this week how they intend to protest prior to a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night. One potential option is kneeling before the flag and during the national anthem.
