NFL reveals new lineup of virtue signaling on-field slogans

The NFL will again cover its fields with social justice slogans this season, marking the sixth straight year of the campaign, according to ESPN. Fans attending games will see phrases stenciled into end zones such as “End Racism,” “Stop Hate,” “Choose Love,” or “Inspire Change,” with “It Takes All of Us” appearing on the opposite end zone of every stadium.

Anna Isaacson, the league’s senior vice president of social responsibility, said the effort is about elevating what players value. “We’re working hand-in-hand with players, and alongside our clubs, to amplify player voices and underscore what is most important to them,” she told The Associated Press. “For decades, the NFL and its players have been a unifying force in American culture and society that brings people of all cultures and backgrounds together to enjoy America’s most popular sport.”

Teams can rotate the messages during the season, and the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles will debut with “Choose Love” when they host the Dallas Cowboys in the Sept. 4 opener. The Bills also embraced “Choose Love” in 2022 after a mass shooting at a Buffalo supermarket. Isaacson said, “Choose Love continues to resonate across the league. It has become a unifying message of healing and hope, one that many players continue to wear voluntarily on helmet decals.”

The league confirmed that “End Racism” and “It Takes All of Us” will once again appear on the fields during international games. Players may also display any of the approved slogans on helmet decals.

These on-field statements run alongside other cause campaigns such as Salute to Service and Crucial Catch, which rotate throughout the season. Since 2017, the league says it has directed more than $460 million to nonprofits and community programs through its Inspire Change initiative. That funding has supported over 650 organizations and 2,100 players and alumni, backing programs on food insecurity, mentorship, and workforce development.

Isaacson added, “This is an honor and responsibility that the league takes seriously, which is why we actively invest in off-field programs and on-field initiatives that promote unity.”