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Goodell says he was unaware of extent of social injustice when NFL banned protests

<span>Photograph: Tony Dejak/AP</span>
Photograph: Tony Dejak/AP

Roger Goodell, the commissioner of a league in which more than two-thirds of players are black, says he was unaware of the extent of social injustice in the United States when players began protesting against police brutality and racism.

In 2018, under Goodell’s leadership, the NFL introduced a ban on players protesting during the national anthem. In June of this year, the league issued an apology for not listening to its players earlier after a wave of protests following the police killing of George Floyd. During an appearance on Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man, a video series with former NFL player Emmanuel Acho, Goodell explained why he had changed his stance on protests.

“I didn’t know what was going on in the communities. When I had the chance to sit with our players – I never had the chance to sit with [Colin Kaepernick],” said Goodell. “But I talked with Kenny Stills a lot. Eric Reid. Malcolm Jenkins, Anquan Boldin. So many other players. Some of them sacrificed a great deal.”

Goodell’s claim to have been previously unaware of the extent of social injustice in the United States is notable, given that the long history of systemic racism in the United States, from slavery to Jim Crow laws to redlining to police brutality to the mass incarceration of people of color is well documented.

When the NFL protest movement started in 2016 and players began to kneel during the anthem, Goodell said “we believe very strongly in patriotism in the NFL”. During his conversation with Acho, the commissioner says he has since changed his views.

“This is not about the flag,” Goodell said. “These are not people who are unpatriotic. They’re not disloyal. They’re not against our military.”

Goodell said he had sought out experiences to help him understand the systemic racism and social injustice that run through US society.

“When you go and sit in one of those bail hearings, or you go on a ride-along, you go talk to a parent who’s lost their child because of police brutality. It’s better than hearing. You feel it. You hear it. You know it, and you see it,” he said.

Goodell said he had not had the chance to speak to Colin Kaepernick, who started the protests, and has been unable to find a job in the NFL since leaving the San Francisco 49ers at the end of the 2016 season.

“We invited him in several times to have the conversation, to have the dialogue,” Goodell said. “I wish we had the benefit of that. We never did. We would have benefited from that. Absolutely.”

There is a widespread feeling that Kaepernick has been blackballed by the league. Goodell was asked by Acho what he would say to the quarterback if he had a chance to speak to him directly.

“The first thing I’d say is I wish we had listened earlier, Kaep, to what you were kneeling about and what you were trying to bring attention to,” Goodell said.