NFL returns social justice helmet decals, end zone stencils

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FILE - In this Jan. 3, 2021, file photo, Philadelphia Eagles Jalen Hurts wears a Black Lives Matter decal on the back of his helmet during the team's NFL football game against the Washington Football Team in Philadelphia. NFL players can wear social justice messages on their helmets again this season and It Takes All of Us and End Racism will be stenciled in end zones for the second straight year as part of the leagues Inspire Change platform. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz, File)

NFL players can wear social justice messages on their helmets again this season and ā€œIt Takes All of Usā€ and ā€œEnd Racismā€ will be stenciled in end zones for the second straight year as part of the leagueā€™s Inspire Change platform.

The league will also bring back the ā€œSay Their Storiesā€ initiative and for the first time, each team will highlight its social justice work during a regular-season home game in Weeks 17 and 18.

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ā€œWe are committed to Inspire Change and the social justice work that inspires change for the long-term,ā€ Anna Isaacson, NFL senior vice president of social responsibility, told The Associated Press.

The six messages players can choose from as part of the helmet decal program are: ā€œEnd Racism,ā€ ā€œStop Hate,ā€ ā€œIt Takes All of Us,ā€ ā€œBlack Lives Matter,ā€ ā€œInspire Changeā€ and ā€œSay Their Stories.ā€

The end zone stencils will be placed on field for all clubs in all home games, except when another cause is being recognized. For example, during a clubā€™s Salute to Service game, ā€œEnd Racismā€ will be replaced with ā€œSalute To Serviceā€ in one end zone and ā€œIt Takes All of Usā€ will remain on the opposite side.

This yearā€™s ā€œSay Their Storiesā€ features will again be voiced by NFL players but will evolve to include social justice heroes who have been personally identified by players for their impact in this area, particularly those from their local communities.

For the final two weeks of the regular season, all clubs will receive the relevant banners, goal post wraps, stencils, helmet decals and video board graphics. The elements will continue to be featured during playoff games.

ā€œThat will provide a unified time frame for us to further amplify all of the work that our clubs are doing and that will lead into the playoffs where Inspire Change will continue to take center stage,ā€ Isaacson said. ā€œThe key message for us as the season is starting, we are ramping up again in a big way with our social justice work.ā€

The league also worked with New Era and the Players Coalition to offer an Inspire Change knit hat that can be worn on the sideline during Weeks 17 and 18 by players, coaches and other personnel to add additional visibility to the cause. The hat will be sold at retail, and 100% of the leagueā€™s proceeds will be donated to Inspire Change grant recipients.

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