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President Obama delivers 9/11 anniversary address prior to NFL kickoff

Ben Rohrbach

On the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the NFL aired an address from President Barack Obama on stadium screens and television broadcasts across the country.

“It’s Sunday, and here in America, that means it’s time for football,” said Obama. “But on this day, 15 years ago, the world was shaken. Towers crumbled, thousands of our fellow Americans lost their lives, our nation and the whole world mourned as one. Yet, as we saw in the days and weeks that followed, and what has become even clearer in the years since, is that the legacy of September 11 is not one of terror or fear, but of resilience and hope, because 9/11 didn’t change us as a nation. Instead, it revealed who we are and who we have the capacity to be. The bravery of our first responders, the example of those who lost loved ones, the service of a new generation of heroes who signed up to wear our uniform, that’s who we are. That’s who we’ve always been — big-hearted people full of courage and optimism. And on this 15th anniversary of a very dark day, that’s the light that America continues to shine for the whole world to follow. May God bless this country we love. Enjoy the games.”

Obama’s address was followed by a moment of silence and the singing of the National Anthem.

Later, President George W. Bush and his wife Laura participated in the pregame coin toss before the Dallas Cowboys hosted the New York Giants. Per ESPN.com’s Todd Archer, the former president briefly wore an FDNY hat from Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie, and the Cowboys crowd chanted “USA.”

Given the recent controversy surrounding Colin Kaepernick, there was some concern about how players would react during Sunday’s renditions of the Star-Spangled Banner, considering the added importance of the anniversary. The Kansas City Chiefs, who linked arms during the National Anthem in solidarity with Kaepernick’s desire for social justice, addressed those concerns in a statement.

Also addressing the convergence of player protests and the anniversary of 9/11, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told Matt Lauer in a taped interview for NBC’s “Today” show, “We’re a patriotic league. We encourage our players to be respectful … but they also have rights, and we have to respect that.”

In addition to Kansas City’s team-wide “sign of solidarity,” Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters raised his right fist during the National Anthem — much like sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Summer Olympics. Likewise, a trio of Tennessee Titans defensive players all raised their fists, and four Miami Dolphins, including Arian Foster, later followed Kaepernick’s lead, kneeling during the anthem.

Meanwhile, Tennessee Titans linebacker Avery Williamson demonstrated his support for the victims of 9/11 by wearing patriotic cleats, despite the threat of a fine for violating the NFL’s uniform policy.

New York Giants wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Victor Cruz, among others, joined Williamson.

It’s important to note that patriotism and seeking social justice are not mutually exclusive concepts. It is possible to honor those who lost their lives on 9/11 and want to see that very freedom terrorists targeted 15 years ago extended to every American today. From Obama’s address to Kansas City’s silent statement and Williamson’s “never forget” cleats, the NFL demonstrated this throughout the day.