With the team honoring military members, all members of the Falcons stood while the national anthem was being performed before practice Saturday.

On July 27, Falcons owner Arthur Blank called the NFL's national-anthem dilemma "complex" while also adding that players should be able to exercise their Constitutional rights under the First Amendment.

After some players begin to protest social and racial injustices during the national anthem around the NFL last season, the Falcons stood most of the time, except for one game when two players knelt in protest of derogatory comments directed to the NFL players.

The NFL and the NFLPA, the player’s union, have met in an attempt to come up with a solution after the owners tried to require players to stand or face a possible fine.

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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins attempts a pass during overtime of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. The Panthers beat the Falcons 30-27. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

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Carleigh Knight (left) and her sister, Natalie Rogovin, look at Christmas ornaments while shopping at Kudzu Antiques + Modern in Decatur on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

Credit: Natrice Miller