The world has changed significantly since the last snap of NFL football was played. Aside from dealing with a devastating pandemic, awareness of social injustice is at an all-time high. The sports world is trying to do what it can to spread that awareness further, supporting the players who choose to express themselves when it comes to the issue of systematic discrimination.
We may see several NFL stars kneeling in peaceful protest of social injustice this season, as has been the case across the sports landscape following the death of George Floyd and the ensuing protests in streets across the nation. Kneeling as a method of protest started with the 49ers when quarterback Colin Kaepernick famously began doing so during the national anthem in 2016.
General manager John Lynch joined the 49ers in 2017 when players across the league continued to kneel to spread awareness.
"I think 2017 was a tremendous experience, just hearing everyone," Lynch told reporters during a Zoom press conference on Monday. "Not only what they're doing, but why they're choosing to do it, and what that meant to them. So I think it's incumbent upon us to make everyone feel comfortable, whatever they choose to do, that we'll be supportive of just that."
Lynch was asked where the 49ers, as a team, stand now with player protests likely to re-emerge during the upcoming season.
"I think our ownership has always been very clear that we respect the rights of our players to express themselves how they wish to do so," Lynch responded. "I'm really proud of our players — and our staff, for that matter — for the way they've responded, and put into action some of the things, and their feelings.
"Some of these discussions that we've had now, they've tried to share with [the] public, and I think we're really proud of them. So that's the mindset of our organization, is that we're going to support what they choose to do."