Bears take a mixed approach to the national anthem in Week 1 — some stand, some kneel and some stay off the field
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Some Chicago Bears stood along their sideline at Ford Field on Sunday before their game against the Detroit Lions. Some knelt. Some stayed in the tunnel.
The Bears took a mixed approach to the national anthem in protest of police brutality, racism and social injustice.
At least 21 Bears players did not take the field at all as the anthem played in front of empty stands, instead staying behind when the Bears and the Lions were introduced by the public address announcer.
Of those that did take the field, offensive linemen Bobby Massie and Rashaad Coward, defensive lineman John Jenkins, Brent Urban, Roy Robertson-Harris, Bilal Nichols and Akiem Hicks and inside linebackers Josh Woods and Joel Iyiegbuniwe took a knee. Outside linebacker James Vaughters, tight end Jimmy Graham and kicker Cairo Santos raised their fists.
Bears coach Matt Nagy stood between Mitch Trubisky and Hicks, putting his hand on Hicks’ shoulder. Inside linebacker Roquan Smith also put his hands on his teammates as they knelt.
Nagy said Friday the Bears had discussed the issue and came up with a plan for how they wanted to handle the anthem, but declined to share their plan ahead of time.
“I think you’re going to see that a lot of people, a lot of different teams, are going to have different ideas and suggestions and thoughts as to what they do,” Nagy said. “There’s a lot of opinions that everybody has. That’s obvious. … What’s important right now is to make sure that we talk about it, we discuss it, which we’re doing and have done, and then in the end, we understand what we have in each other and why we’re doing what we’re doing.”
About 25 minutes before kickoff, Bears players stood side by side across the 20-yard line while the NFL played “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” which the league will play before games this season to highlight players’ social justice work. Offensive linemen Charles Leno Jr. and Massie knelt during the song.
The Lions stood side by side across the far end zone facing the Bears.
Nagy and the Bears staff supported the players last month when they decided to use a practice day to protest the Kenosha police shooting of Jacob Blake.
And Bears Chairman George McCaskey indicated Thursday that the organization would support whatever the players decided to do during the anthem.
“I hope the players know that they’re in an environment here where they will be supported and we’ve told them that whatever they decide to do, we will support them,” McCaskey said. “Again, I’m very impressed that for a lot of guys it’s more than the symbolism of taking a knee. It’s concrete action to make the positive change in our community. If they feel more encouraged now to speak out, we welcome that.”
Several players indicated they were working with the organization to map out a plan to help in communities affected by racism, police brutality and social injustice. McCaskey said the Bears were trying to help streamline their ideas. The Bears have not yet announced any initiatives.
“We know that football is our job,” Bears inside linebacker Danny Trevathan said last month. “A lot of people tell us to shut up and play football. But you know, we are people who have families and kids that can be affected by this. So I think it’s important that we use our platform to speak up about it. You never know when the situation will turn and it will happen to one of us.”
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Chicago Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky (10) warms up before facing off against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit onSept. 13, 2020.
© Jos M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune/TNS