NFL

NFL plans to play Black national anthem before Week 1 games this season

NFL games in Week 1 may be starting a little differently this season.

According to ESPN, the league will have renditions of “Lift Every Voice And Sing,” traditionally known as the Black national anthem, played before “The Star-Spangled Banner” as the NFL’s regular season gets underway.

The NFL is also considering other ways to recognize the victims of police brutality during the upcoming season, which is slated to start on Sept. 10. Among those ideas is listing the names of victims on helmet decals or jersey patches, per ESPN.

The decision comes in the weeks after commissioner Roger Goodell admitted the league fumbled its handling of previous peaceful protesting done by players. The NFL has since committed $250 million to fight systemic racism over the next 10 years, and Goodell has urged teams to sign quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who has been unable to land a contract since he knelt during the national anthem to protest police brutality in 2016.