<P> The protests began in the National Football League ( NFL ) after San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick sat and later kneeled during the anthem , as opposed to the tradition of standing , before his team 's preseason games of 2016 . Throughout the 2016 season , members of various NFL and other sports teams have engaged in similar silent protests . On September 24 , 2017 , the NFL protests became more widespread when over 200 players sat or kneeled in response to Donald Trump 's calling for owners to fire the protesting players . </P>
<P> The protests began in the National Football League ( NFL ) after San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick sat and later kneeled during the anthem , as opposed to the tradition of standing , before his team 's preseason games of 2016 . Throughout the 2016 season , members of various NFL and other sports teams have engaged in similar silent protests . On September 24 , 2017 , the NFL protests became more widespread when over 200 players sat or kneeled in response to Donald Trump 's calling for owners to fire the protesting players . </P>
1st nfl player to kneel during national anthem
1st nfl player to kneel during national anthem
Colin Kaepernick
Colin Kaepernick