“With great power comes great responsibility.”
— Spiderman
It’s time for the NFL to take a strong stance on gun violence.
The Super Bowl Parade shootings in Kansas City left one dead and 30 injured. At least eight of the injured were children.
In 2023, there were 656 mass shootings. That’s over 1.79 mass shootings per day (656/365). There was an average of 118 deaths per day due to gun violence last year, per the research group Gun Violence Archive. Gun violence is a major cause of premature death in the U.S.
NFL and Gun Violence History
It is not the first time the NFL has experienced gun violence. The tragedies associated with Aaron Hernandez, Rae Carruth, and Jovan Belcher are just some of the sad stories involving NFL players and guns.
To their credit, some NFL players, teams, and the League as a whole have taken steps to create awareness to reduce gun violence. In 2022, at least ten NFL players wore special cleats to raise awareness for the issue. The Philadelphia Eagles donated over $400,000 to nine non-profits for gun violence prevention in Philadelphia in 2023. NFL players joined forces with WNBA and NBA players in the “Wear Orange” campaign to support National Gun Violence Awareness Day.
But the NFL could do so much more.
Needed: An NFL Initiative To Stop Gun Violence
123.7 million people watched the Super Bowl. It was TV’s biggest audience since the moon landing. The NFL is the most popular sport in the U.S. by far. With loyal followings for every team and the authority of star players and coaches, the NFL is uniquely positioned to influence decision-making on reducing gun violence. It’s time.
The NFL doesn’t have a great track record of supporting important causes on a timely basis.
When Colin Kaepernick and others kneeled to protest police brutality and unequal justice, the NFL fumbled an important opportunity.
Going further back, it was really the American Football League (AFL) that made the greatest strides in racially integrating professional football. Led by the Kansas Chiefs, the AFL recruited heavily from historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and paved the way for teams from both leagues to recruit black players and integrate the leagues.
What Can The NFL Do?
Gun violence has affected the NFL, its players, and its fans. It’s time for the NFL to step up and do something bigger than they’ve ever done. What the NFL does to reduce gun violence could take many forms, including increasing awareness, raising money, and using its stars’ power to influence opinions.
Maybe they partner with college football teams? Or other sports organizations like the NBA and MLB? Or a group of entertainers from other realms, led by Taylor Swift? Maybe each NFL team attempts to make inroads with their local politicians. Use the NFL’s star power. There must be a way to protect more children and citizens from gun violence.
This is an opportunity for the NFL and Roger Goodell to make a statement. The NFL can’t just dip their toes in the water on this one. They need to go all in.
By Mike O’Halloran
Founder and Editor, Sports Feel Good Stories
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