NFL To Remove “End Racism” From Super Bowl End Zone

Source: Katelyn Mulcahy / Getty

The National Football League is removing the “End Racism” tag from its end zones for the upcoming Super Bowl.

The National Football League is moving to remove the “End Racism” phrase from its end zone at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, in time for Super Bowl LIX between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles.

Unnamed sources revealed the decision, which was confirmed by NFL spokesperson Bryan McCarthy in a statement: “Teams have used on the field this year ‘Vote,’ ‘End Racism,’ ‘Stop Hate,’ and ‘Choose Love.’ This is part of the NFL’s Inspire Change,” adding: “Choose Love is appropriate to use as our country has endured in recent weeks wildfires in southern California, the terrorist attack here in New Orleans, the plane and helicopter crash near our nation’s capital, and the plane crash in Philadelphia.”

The “End Racism” phrase was present in the end zone during the NFC Championship Game held at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

The decision marks the first time since 2021 that the “End Racism” phrase will not be in one of the end zones of an NFL game. The “Inspire Change” campaign began after the murder of George Floyd by former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin which led to nationwide protests against police brutality. It was also inspired by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and other players’ protests by kneeling on the field. The sources also said that the move, first revealed to higher-level NFL officials, could be seen as being conciliatory towards President Donald Trump, who is reportedly slated to attend the game next Sunday (February 9) as a guest of Gayle Benson, the New Orleans Saints team owner. Trump has been long opposed to efforts of inclusion and anti-racism in the league, particularly during his first presidential term.

The NFL has signaled that it wouldn’t be following the current trend of companies removing their DEI efforts, with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell elaborating further at his Super Bowl press conference on Monday (January 3).  “We got into diversity efforts because we felt it was the right thing for the National Football League,” Goodell said. “And we’re going to continue those efforts, because we’ve not only convinced ourselves we’ve proven it to ourselves — it does make the NFL better.”