Several NFL players participated in anti-American protests of the National Anthem beginning in August of 2016.
The League now requires players on the field to stand for the National Anthem.
But Michael Strahan could lose his job at FOX Sports after he got caught on camera insulting America’s veterans.
It’s a tradition in the United States for the “Star Spangled Banner” to be played before major sporting events.
Players line up on the field and fans rise to their feet and place their right hand over their hearts during the national anthem.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick started the kneeling movement at the start of the 2016 season and it quickly spread to players across all sports.
“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick said in a press conference at the time. “To me, this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way,” he continued. “There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”
The disrespect to America shown by NFL players sent the League’s ratings into the toilet.
And in 2018 NFL owners “unanimously approved a national anthem policy requiring players to stand if they are on the field during the performance of the song.”
But professional football hall-of-famer and Fox NFL commentator Michael Strahan recently found himself under fire for disrespecting the flag on Veteran’s Day.
It all started when an image went viral online showing Strahan as the only member of the Fox NFL team who was not standing with his hand over his heart during the national anthem.
Michael Strahan disrespected the military during a Veterans Day pre-game show on @NFLonFOX. The great irony is Strahan on a ship surrounded by men and women who would willingly sacrifice their lives to protect his freedom. So, his behavior is not just repugnant, it’s downright… pic.twitter.com/iIXqChfLCW
— toddstarnes (@toddstarnes) November 10, 2024
The photo has been viewed more than 17 million times and led to calls for Fox to fire Strahan.
“I couldn’t believe what I saw as you stood there with your hands clasped in front of you,” one Instagram user wrote. “How disrespectful to all of those men and women who were there and looking at you.”
“What’s wrong with Strahan,” one X user wrote.
On Tuesday, Fox responded to the calls for Strahan to be removed from the show.
According to the Daily Mail, a Fox source said it was an honest mistake and Strahan meant no disrespect to the flag.
He will not be fined or fired for the honest mistake.
The reality is that Strahan likely did make an honest mistake and meant no harm.
After all, Strahan’s father served in the military for 23 years.
Strahan honored his father on Veteran’s Day in a post on Instagram.
“Thank you to all veterans and active service members who courageously risk their lives to protect us every day,” he wrote. “Your selfless service is beyond measure.”
“This is my hero, it is also my father, Maj. Gene W. Strahan, Sr.,” he wrote as a caption to a photo of his father. “He served for 23 years in the army and was a proud member of the 82nd Airborne Division,” he continued. “Just as I honor my father, I keep all of you in my thoughts each and every day as we would not have the safety and freedoms we cherish without you.”
“Thank You,” he concluded.
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