Kyler Murray Confirms He Plans to Kneel During National Anthem Once 2020 NFL Season Starts

Reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Kyler Murray confirmed Wednesday that he will kneel for the national anthem in 2020 to protest social injustice.
Reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Kyler Murray confirmed Wednesday that he will kneel for the national anthem in 2020 to protest social injustice. / Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

Arizona Cardinals second-year quarterback Kyler Murray confirmed Wednesday that he will kneel for the National Anthem during the 2020 NFL season, joining a growing list of players, including Adrian Peterson and Baker Mayfield, who plan to do so.

The reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and dark-horse MVP pick explained his decision to reporters in a Wednesday conference call, condemning the racial injustice currently occurring in the United States and stating that he would "stand for what's right."

In addition to Murray, Mayfield, and Peterson, Rams wide receiver Robert Woods made such intentions known. For his part, Houston Texans star defensive lineman JJ Watt defended players who plan to kneel, arguing with a fan who assumed he'd be going in a different direction.

While it seems that many players are likely to kneel during the 2020 season, Colin Kaepernick, the first player to do so, remains unsigned. With racial injustice remaining a prominent issue in the United States, it appears that some teams have begun to do their research on the former San Francisco quarterback.

Adam Schefter reported Wednesday that Los Angeles Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn liked Kaepernick's fit with his roster, and would bring him in for a workout this offseason.

While more players will certainly announce their intent to kneel in the coming weeks and months, Murray's decision carries weight, as he's a former Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall pick. The Arizona quarterback is coming off of a promising rookie season, and with the addition of wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, many have tabbed him as a possible MVP contender.