The NFL normally likes to throw its considerable weight around, but now they’re bending the knee. The end zone slogan “END RACISM,” a staple at games since being added in 2020 as part of the league’s social justice initiatives, will not appear in Super Bowl LIV, conveniently timed with the announcement that Donald Trump will become the first sitting president to attend the big game.
NFL to remove ‘END RACISM’ from end zone as President Trump set to attend Super Bowl
The NFL is bending the knee.
Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
In its place the league will use its two, far more vague phrases: “CHOOSE LOVE,” and “IT TAKES ALL OF US” — both less likely to offend the sensibilities of racists who may be in attendance.
It appears the decision was not made in the months leading up to the Super Bowl, but rather a decision made after Trump announced he was attending the game. The Athletic reports that high-level NFL executives were made aware of the change earlier this week, with NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy indicating that “CHOOSE LOVE” was decided to be the replacement because of the fires in Los Angeles and recent air disasters, for some reason.
“We felt it was an appropriate statement for what the country has collectively endured, given recent tragedies, and can serve as an inspiration.”
It’s unclear how the power of love will keep planes from crashing or fires from burning, but replacing a stance against racism is especially feckless considering that the D.C. air crash that killed 67 people is being falsely pinned on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) measured by the FAA by grifters and racists when there’s zero evidence anyone involved in the disaster was either a minority hire or unqualified.
“This is a bullshit narrative. [Written the end zone] will be ‘Choose Love’. Teams have used on the field this year, ‘Vote,’ ‘End Racism,’ ‘Stop Hate,’ and ‘Choose Love.’ This is part of the NFL’s Inspire Change. We started the field stencils in 2020. For the championship games a couple weeks ago, the Chiefs had Choose Love and Eagles had End Racism. … ‘Choose Love’ is appropriate to use as our country has endured in recent weeks wildfires in southern California, the terrorist attack here in New Orleans, the plane and helicopter crash near our nation’s capital and the plane crash in Philadelphia.”
The decision comes in the wake of Roger Goodell’s “State of the NFL” talk during Super Bowl week. In it, he defended that the league would continue its internal DEI efforts, citing that it was the right move for them. However, in spite of racism being more open and rampant than at any time in the last 50 years, with an administration scrapping diversity initiatives and removing Black History Month as an observance by federal employees, the league is choosing not to upset President Trump over following through with its own plans.
Just so we’re clear, this has been Roger Goodell’s week:
- Chose not to open any investigation into the New Orleans Saints for assisting the Catholic Church during a sexual abuse scandal
- Chose to change the slogan in the end zone so it wouldn’t offend the President
Stunning work, Mr. Goodell.
See More:
