Drew Brees admitted he’d “completely missed the mark” this week when he dismissed NFL players taking a knee in protest of racial inequality and police brutality as “disrespecting the flag.”
“In an attempt to talk about respect, unity, and solidarity centered around the American flag and the national anthem, I made comments that were insensitive and completely missed the mark on the issues we are facing right now as a country.”
“I will never know what it’s like to be a black man or raise black children in America but I will work every day to put myself in those shoes and fight for what is right,” Brees continued.
Asked whether he thought NFL players would resume kneeling during the national anthem in future seasons, he said, “I will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America or our country.”
Brees’ initial comments came just a few days after Los Angeles Chargers coach Anthony Lynn spoke out in defense of NFL free agent Colin Kaepernick, who began sitting and then kneeling during the anthem in 2016 when he was a quarterback for the 49ers.
