The NFL launched a social messaging campaign in 2020 aimed at spotlighting and eliminating social injustice and racism. Their method of spreading the word was putting messages stenciled in end zones on playing fields throughout the League. Per Whiskey Riff, those messages included slogans like "It Takes All Of Us," "End Racism," and "Stop Hate." With the 2025 football season kicking off, the NFL announced that it's continuing this initiative.
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To put on their fields, teams can select from "Choose Love," "End Racism," "Inspire Change," or "Stop Hate." On the opposite end zone will be written "It Takes All Of Us."
An NFL Administrator Explained the League's Social Justice Effort
Anna Isaacson, the NFL's Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility, said per the outlet, "We're working hand-in-hand with players, and alongside our clubs, to amplify player voices and underscore what is most important to them. For decades, the NFL and its players have been a unifying force in American culture and society that brings people of all cultures and backgrounds together to enjoy America's most popular sport."
She added, "This is an honor and responsibility that the league takes seriously, which is why we actively invest in off-field programs and on-field initiatives that promote unity."
Not everyone is on board with this idea. One of the vocal dissenters is NFL legend Brett Favre.
Favre Criticized the NFL Campaign
The former Green Bay Packers QB was a guest on Sage Steele's podcast recently. He came down hard on the NFL for their social justice efforts.
"I don't know, no one calls me from the NFL. And that's fine, I don't expect them to. No one asks my advice, and that's fine. I don't expect them too. But I feel like you're maintaining a divisive stance, where they may say, 'Well we're trying to bring everyone together.' No, that's not bringing everyone together."
The Former Gridiron Great Thinks It's Divisive
He went on, "There's a lot of things in this world and in this country that we can be better at. And I think we continue to get better at certain things. But you're creating more division by talking about a problem, that I'm not saying is not still a problem, racism, but I think you could do more by not talking about it. Talk about unity, and what we've done, and how far we've come."
Favre also noted, "There's those that, they're gonna say, 'I've faced this all the time, and kudos to the NFL.' But I think most people are over and beyond that. And I just feel like the league is the league of divisiveness."
He Said Politics Was Never Formerly Part of Football
Favre, 55, ended his career in 2010. He feels that things have changed dramatically since then.
"There was never any talk in the locker room - and that's not that long ago, in some respects - I don't remember ever there being a political argument, or even close to a political argument. Because that was never...I don't even know if the term conservative, Republican, Democrat, ever came up in the locker room. We didn't know the difference. But funny how far we've come in a short amount of time. And it just, to me, if their intentions are really noble, I think they could do it a different way. I really do."
