Former Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall is “ashamed” that he did not do more to take a stand against social and racial injustices in the United States during his career.
Marshall, who played for New York from 2015-16, elected to not join Colin Kaepernick in taking a knee during the national anthem to bring attention to injustices toward black people and minorities in 2016. While appearing on I Am Athlete, Marshall expressed his regret for not kneeling and why he ultimately decided not to.
“The first thing that came to my mind, and I’m just being honest, was: ‘I got a mom that don’t work. I got a sister with four kids that don’t work and I’ve been taking care of for 10 years. If I take this knee, what will happen?’ And I remember feeling so broken and so hurt that that was the first thing that hit my mind. ‘Do I kneel for the entire community, or do I stand for my mom, my brother my sister?’ And looking back on it, I am ashamed that I didn’t take that knee. But I am so excited now about with the video that just came out with the NFL players, because now I feel like they don’t have to make that decision. They don’t have to think about that anymore. If they want to take a knee, you think Nike’s going to drop them?”
Marshall did not remain completely silent on the issue, as he discussed it with team leaders such as Ryan Fitzpatrick, Nick Mangold, Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie in an effort to keep Gang Green’s locker room united. However, Marshall never kneeled during the anthem.
Marshall’s comments come in the wake of the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer Derrick Chauvin, who has been charged with second-degree murder.
Floyd’s killing has prompted protests across the United States calling for an end to police brutality against black people and minorities. It has also brought the kneeling protests started by Kaepernick back to the forefront of conversation in the NFL with the 2020 season approaching.