NEW ORLEANS โ The NFL is set to feature the phrase โChoose Loveโ in one end zone at the Superdome during Sundayโs Super Bowl, aiming to offer a message of hope following various crises that have shaken the country in the early part of the year.
โThe Super Bowl serves as a significant moment for the nation, and the NFL has a distinct opportunity to inspire and uplift people,โ said a spokesman for the league, Brian McCarthy. He added that the phrase is particularly relevant in light of recent events, including wildfires in Southern California, a terrorist attack in New Orleans, and tragic aviation incidents near the nationโs capital and in Philadelphia.
In the opposite end zone, the message โIt Takes All of Usโ will be displayed, which has been a staple since the NFL introduced field messages in 2020 as part of its Inspire Change initiative. Throughout the season, various teams have showcased messages such as โVote,โ โEnd Racism,โ โStop Hate,โ or โChoose Loveโ in their respective end zones.
The defending champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, previously used โChoose Loveโ during the AFC title game against the Buffalo Bills. Conversely, the Philadelphia Eagles opted for โEnd Racismโ in the NFC championship matchup.
Notably, President Donald Trump is expected to attend the game, as the Chiefs pursue a historic third consecutive Super Bowl victory, something no team has achieved in the Super Bowlโs history.
Despite speculation, sources within the league have clarified that the absence of โEnd Racismโ as a message in the Super Bowl does not stem from Trumpโs attendance. These individuals spoke under anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the discussion.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell addressed concerns on Monday, asserting that the leagueโs commitment to promoting diversity does not conflict with the Trump administrationโs stance against diversity and inclusion initiatives in federal programs. The NFL continues to enforce policies requiring teams to consider diverse candidates for key coaching and executive roles, stemming from the Rooney Rule established over twenty years ago.
Several NFL franchise owners made contributions to Trumpโs campaign and to conservative causes for the upcoming 2024 election.
โOur owners are part of every decision we make,โ Goodell noted. โOur policies are structured to comply with legal standards and industry practices. There are no quotas involved; our focus is on expanding access to attract the best talent into the NFL. We maintain that what we are doing aligns with the purposes of both the current and previous administrations.โ