NFL teams paid tribute to the victims in Israel of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack by holding moments of silence before games during the following week. But a recent social media post falsely claimed the NFL encouraged players “to kneel for Israel before every game.” An NFL spokesperson called the claim “patently false.”
The Super Bowl had double the viewers than the State of the Union address, contrary to a false claim on social media.
Q: Was Colin Kaepernick arrested during an NFL game on Sept. 9?
A: No. That story was originally published on a self-described satirical website.
Q: Is it true that Michael Jordan “walked away” from Nike?
A: No. That false story was first published by a website that calls its work satire.
Q: Did Nike end its new deal with Colin Kaepernick because he made “anti-white” remarks?
A: No. That made-up story was first published by a website that says its work is satire.
Q: Did police officers “take a knee” and then “walk out on” the Washington Redskins?
A: No. That made-up story was first posted by a self-described satirical website last year.
Q: Has George Soros been paying NFL players to protest?
A: No. A story making that claim offers no evidence to support it.
Q: Did players for the Seattle Seahawks burn the American flag?
A: No. A widely circulated picture was altered to make it look that way.
Q: Did President Donald Trump revoke the National Football League’s status as a nonprofit organization?
A: No. The NFL’s league office voluntarily gave up that status in 2015.
Q: Does the NFL have rules for player conduct during the national anthem? Does the Department of Defense fund patriotic ceremonies at NFL games?
A: Prior to May 2018, the league didn’t require players to stand during the anthem. The Defense Department no longer funds various patriotic displays.