The NFL is planning a wide-ranging tribute for the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, with commemoration set to reach far beyond one game or one market.
In a statement released Wednesday, Commissioner Roger Goodell said all Week 1 games will include tributes honoring the heroes and victims of 9/11. Those plans will include in-stadium moments, broadcast integrations and community engagement efforts.
The league also said all games will carry live national anthem coverage for the 1 p.m. ET slate.
“We continue to honor the memory of those we lost on September 11 and the heroes whose courage and sacrifice inspired our nation,” Goodell said, via OutKick. “Out of unimaginable tragedy emerged an extraordinary sense of unity and service that brought Americans together.
“As the NFL family reflects on this day 25 years later, we remember those who were taken from us and support those who continue to carry the pain of that day. We also recommit ourselves to the spirit of resilience, community, and service that remains an enduring example for future generations.”
The league’s plans are not limited to Sunday. The NFL said it will also bring its 9/11 remembrance to Australia, where similar tributes are scheduled for the 49ers-Rams game on Thursday, September 10.
New York’s two NFL teams will have their own role in the leaguewide effort. The Jets are on the road in Week 1, but the Giants will host the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football and mark the occasion with a special sideline tribute.
Players, coaches and staff from both teams will wear commemorative NYPD, FDNY and PAPD hats in honor of the first responders who served on September 11 and in the days that followed. They will also wear special 9/11-branded “Never Forget” T-shirts during pregame warmups.
The NFL said Giants-branded versions of the caps will be sold at the team store, with proceeds going to the respective agencies.
The league and its teams are also making donations tied to the anniversary. The Giants, Jets and Washington Commanders will contribute $1 million to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, while the NFL Foundation will donate another $250,000 to the 9/11 Day non-profit organization.
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