Roger Goodell has issued an apology: "We, the NFL, condemn racism and the systematic oppression of Black People. We, the NFL, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier..."
On June 5, the NFL issued a statement on Twitter condemning racism and admitting that it was at fault for not listening to earlier protests—namely Colin Kaepernick taking a knee—in years prior.
Sports Illustrated's Robin Lundberg explains why commissioner Roger Goodell's statement is significant, even though the NFL hasn't yet issued a personal apology to Kaepernick.
Read the full video transcript below:
Robin Lundberg: Whatever you think of how it came to be, Roger Goodell and the NFL’s latest statement is significant. Because it shows what the country is currently thinking.
I realize for many it will not have true meaning without a direct apology to Colin Kaepernick, but think about how far the conversation has come, from essentially ostracizing him for kneeling, to Drew Brees doing a complete 180 on his disrespecting the flag comments.
No longer are people arguing over the merits of the protests, but instead the NFL commissioner is saying the league was wrong and we see the focus actually moving to social injustice and policing.
And one must consider the audience the NFL speaks to. I’ve argued the league may be the single most popular thing in this country. It is viewed in blue and red states and everything in between. So for them to go from being scared of backlash from certain fans for allowing players to take a stand, to having the commissioner on camera addressing exactly what the players asked, is a serious shift. It shows both that players in the NFL are beginning to realize the power they have, and that the inverse of the backlash the league originally feared is now far more powerful. Again, just ask Brees.
So, while my default position is hoping for people’s best intentions when they show a change, I understand why some remain cynical. However, I wouldn’t underestimate the significance of the NFL saying this. Because in many ways, nothing speaks to America like football does.
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