During the singing of the national anthem by country singer Tyler Farr on Thursday night, both the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears stood and linked arms.

ESPN's Michele Steele reported the "vast majority" of players did not link arms, but many sang along with the anthem.

Steele also reported several fans licked arms in the stands.

The display of unity comes less than a week after President Donald Trump said NFL players who kneel or sit in protest of police brutality and social injustice were “sons of bitches” who deserved to be fired.

Trump also tweeted out several messages discouraging players from kneeling during the playing of the national anthem because it was disrespectful to the United States.

A record number of NFL players responded last weekend by sitting and kneeling during the national anthem to demonstrate unity against the President’s comments.

After the Packers' 35-14 win over the Bears, quarterback Aaron Rodgers said he hopes all NFL teams continue to showing to keep conversations about police brutality and social injustice going.

"Outside the locker room there's been some great conversations that have been started and as much as some people want us to shut up and play football and keep the politics to the politics, sports and politics have always been intersected."

About the Author

Keep Reading

Tony Barnhart speaks into the microphone during a broadcast of his and Wes Durham's radio show in the 790/The Zone studios in Buckhead. Barnhart, a journalist for more than four decades, announced Thursday that he will retire after this upcoming football season. (AJC 2010)

Credit: Special

Featured

Demonstrators protest President Donald Trump and Elon Musk on Presidents Day in front of the Capitol in Atlanta on Monday, February 17, 2025, as part of nationwide demonstrations organized by the 50501 movement. (Arvin Temkar / AJC)

Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC