evidence: Some thought Pittsburgh's longtime skipper, a standard-bearer for Black coaches fighting for equality in a sport that has been unkind to Black coaches and executives, banned two of his players for kneeling during the Star-Spangled Banner. [...] In a word, no. Tomlin never suspended his players for kneeling during the national anthem. [...] For what it's worth, Tomlin has been open about his support for players protesting against the national anthem. In the aftermath of the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and other Black people throughout 2020, Tomlin delivered a clear and concise statement of camaraderie for those willing to park themselves for the national anthem, saying the following: