Jets head coach Adam Gase is all-in on supporting his players and how they choose to protest social and racial injustices across America. It wasn’t too long ago that he did not grasp the magnitude of the situation, though.
When he was with the Dolphins, Gase coached Kenny Stills, who has emerged as one of the most vocal players in the NFL regarding social and racial injustices. Stills was one of the first players to join Colin Kaepernick in kneeling during the national anthem and, on July 14, was arrested as part of the Louisville 87, a group of 87 men and women who were arrested for peacefully protesting the lack of action following the killing of Breonna Taylor.
Stills’ activism caught the eye of Gase, who called his former player to not only discuss the receiver’s efforts to bring about change, but to also express his regret for not doing more to support Still when the two were together in Miami.
“I was really, really, like, impacted by Gase,” Stills, now with te Texans, told ESPN’s Cameron Wolfe. “He reached out to me and was just like, ‘Hey I apologize for never having a conversation with you around this topic. I totally didn’t understand, I didn’t get it, and it’s something I regret.’ Him doing that out of the blue really showed who he is as a man and our relationship and the character he has and how he’s grown.”
Gase has stated that he will back any players who decide to kneel during the national anthem this upcoming season. He was also a major part of New York’s conversation about social and racial injustices when the Jets canceled practice last week.
Gang Green’s second-year head coach has yet to commit to kneeling with players in 2020 if they decide to do so, but it sounds like he now has a firmer grasp on the pulse of his team regarding their thoughts on social and racial injustices throughout the United States. After the killings of Taylor, George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and numerous others in the Black community, Gase has learned from those who have been impacted the most.
“He’s able to sit down and reflect and really think about his actions and his decisions,” Stills said. “I think just as a man, regardless of the NFL or being a head coach or whatever, that’s something I admire and appreciate and love about him.”
