Pastor Corey Brooks: The NFL’s superficial displays of virtue have reached a new low

NFL’s Social Justice Messaging and Its Backlash

So, I came across an ad featuring Sydney Sweeney, which made me think—maybe the whole “woke” narrative was losing steam. It seemed like a clever way to push back against the incessant calls to conform to certain ideologies, where disagreement often results in being labeled as intolerant. But, despite the ad’s millions of views, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it didn’t truly address deeper issues.

Recently, there was chatter about how the NFL has been drawn into this “awakening.” Every team has to display one of four designated “social justice” messages in the end zones, with “It takes us all” appearing in one of them.

Thinking back to the NFL in the 1980s, it was a different world altogether. Joe Montana’s 49ers were dominating, Walter Payton was pure class, and who could forget Jim McMahon’s antics? And then there’s Lawrence Taylor, tearing it up for the Giants—those were exhilarating times, right?

Fast forward to the 2010s, when the sport was overshadowed by protests, particularly the kneeling during the anthem led by Colin Kaepernick. Those moments shifted the narrative, turning press conferences into discussions about police brutality and social justice—which, honestly, didn’t sit well with everyone. It felt like politics were spilling over into every aspect of the league.

And then came the particularly striking moment in 2021 when Kaepernick’s Netflix show, “Black and White,” sparked huge debates. It was strange to witness a millionaire quarterback from a comfortable background making accusations about the sport he played being akin to modern slavery. It raised eyebrows for sure; it was a complicated mix of identity and assertion.

After George Floyd’s murder, the NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, publicly regretted not addressing those issues earlier, leading the league to commit millions towards tackling systemic racism. It seems like the NFL now thinks of itself as a vehicle for social change, but is that really the right role for a sports organization?

It leaves you wondering about the clarity amidst all the confusion. The recent moves—these gestures of “virtue signaling”—often feel exaggerated and disconnected from the sport itself. Many fans long for a simpler narrative focused on athleticism and competition rather than societal issues.

Let’s be real: sports like the NFL excel when everyone competes based on merit. That’s where the true spirit lies. A return to that could do more for society than any catchphrase on the field.

There seems to be a growing fatigue around these constant signals of virtue. Fans want respect for the hard-hitting, blue-collar essence of football—the real people who embody the game and keep it grounded.