Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin explained on Sunday morning why his team would remain in the locker room during the national anthem in Chicago. He didn’t want his team to be part of a political discussion, or there to be division in the locker room as a result of players protesting or not protesting. But in the end there was one player who took the field, offensive tackle Alejandro Villanueva.
Alejandro Villanueva, a U.S. Army veteran, was the lone Steeler on the field during national anthem
On Monday, Villanueva said he made his “teammates look bad” for doing so.
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
Villanueva’s decision surprised the rest of his teammates. One reason the Steelers decided stay off the field during the nation anthem was because Villanueva didn’t want to be singled out while he stood.
“We thought we were all in attention with the same agreement, obviously,” linebacker James Harrison told Penn Live. “But I guess we weren’t.”
”I don’t want to go into that, but we support our guy Al. He feels he had to do it. This guy served our country, and we thank him for it,” Cam Hayward said when asked about it after the game.
During the national anthem, Villanueva’s teammates could be seen behind him in the tunnel, several with their hands over the hearts as well, raising the question of why he was out in front of them.
Villanueva’s career in the NFL didn’t begin until 2014. Prior to that, he served three tours of duty in Afghanistan, where he served as a Captain in the army, as well as being an army ranger.
“I don’t know if the most effective way is to sit down during the national anthem with a country that’s providing you freedom, providing you $16 million a year ... when there are black minorities that are dying in Iraq and Afghanistan for less than $20,000 a year.”
However, he was also quick to acknowledge the problems in this country.
“I will be the first one to hold hands with Colin Kaepernick and do something about the way minorities are being treated in the United States, the injustice that is happening with police brutality, the justice system, inequalities in pay,” Villanueva said. “You can’t do it by looking away from the people that are trying to protect our freedom and our country.”
The Steelers organization has not released a statement following Donald Trump’s statements on boycotting the NFL due to protests during the anthem.
UPDATE: On Monday, Villanueva talked to reporters about the team’s decision to forgo the national anthem.
Although he recognized what the flag means to veterans, he also feels bad for not supporting the team-wide decision that was made. Villanueva says going out while everyone else stayed in the locker room “threw them under the bus unintentionally.” He reiterated that he supports anyone who decides to protest. According to Chris Adamski of the Tribune-Review, Villanueva says he is embarrassed for not joining his teammates during the anthem:
