NFL supports social justice and local communities with 'Inspire Change' initiative

With their aggressive vaccine drive the NFL had already laid down a marker, now they continue their progressive march by tackling social justice issues

Helmet Decals and the NFL's  'Inspire Change' initiative

NFL players across the league can once again don social justice messages on their helmets. Additionally the phrases "It Takes All of Us" and "End Racism" will be stenciled in end zones for the second year running as part of the league's 'Inspire Change' platform.

In an increasingly socially aware approach, the league will re-establish the "Say Their Stories" initiative and in a positive first, will create a platform for each team to promote their social justice work during a regular-season home game in Weeks 17 and 18.

What about the Social Justice messages?

In an exchange with the associated press, NFL senior vice president of social responsibility, Anna Isaacson stated "We are committed to Inspire Change and the social justice work that inspires change for the long term." In total the NFL has authorized six messages which players can choose to display on their helmets: "End Racism," "Stop Hate," "It Takes All of Us," "Black Lives Matter," "Inspire Change" and "Say Their Stories." Where end zone stencils are concerned, they will be implemented on the field for all teams in all home games, unless there is another cause being promoted such as the 'Salute to Service" game. In this case the "End Racism" stencil will be replaced with "Salute to Service" on one side while "It Takes All of Us will remain on the other.

NFL's 'Say Their Stories' has been renewed

The NFL's "Say Their Stories" initiative  brings with it a new and inspiring angle. The features will of course continue to be voiced by NFL players, yet on the other hand, will now be inclusive of a variety of social justice heroes, who have been personally selected by players on the basis of their positive impact in their local communities.

In the final two weeks of the regular season, all clubs will receive the requisite banners, goalpost wraps, stencils, helmet decals and video board graphics and will continue to promote the initiative during the post season.

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"That will provide a unified time frame for us to further amplify all of the work that our clubs are doing and that will lead into the playoffs where 'Inspire Change' will continue to take center stage," Isaacson stated. "The key message for us as the season is starting, we are ramping up again in a big way with our social justice work."

Tipping the hat to all

The league also continued its collaboration with New Era and the Players Coalition to offer an 'Inspire Change' knit hat in an effort to add greater visibility to the initiative. In weeks 17 and 18 it will be worn by worn on the sidelines by players, coaches and other personnel.The hat will of course be sold at retail with 100% of the league's proceeds going to 'Inspire Change' grant recipients.