Chicago Bears Stand, Link Arms For National Anthem During Green Bay Packers Game

GREEN BAY, WI — Going into Thursday night's game between the Bears and Packers, Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers had asked fans at Lambeau Field to stand and link arms along with the home team while "The Star-Spangled Banner" played as a show of unity and equality in the wake of President Donald Trump's attack on NFL players who protested during "The Star-Spangled Banner." The Packers and some of those fans in attendance also were joined by Bears players, who stood arm in arm before the game began.

Shouts of "USA! USA!" could be heard before country singer Tyler Farr began his rendition of the anthem. Once the song was under way, some fans followed Rodgers' suggestion and linked arms in the stands. Many, however, were seen standing for the anthem with their hands over their hearts or in a salute.

"This is about equality," Rodgers told ESPN earlier this week. "This is about unity and love and growing together as a society and starting a conversation around something that may be a little bit uncomfortable for people." (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Chicago — or your neighborhood. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

The game was the 195th matchup between Chicago and Green Bay, marking the oldest rivalry in the NFL and arguably the greatest in pro sports. The Packers won this meeting, 35-14, and took a lead in the rivalry, 95-94 (there have been six ties in the rivalry).

The display during Thursday night's game was another example of how some of the biggest battles this season are happening before kickoff and don't include a football or tackling. The national anthem during NFL games became a volatile intersection point for sports, culture and politics last year when former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began taking a knee during the song in order to protest racial inequality and police brutality. Since then, various players and teams have used the playing of the anthem to show their support of Kaepernick's message.

The demonstrations by Kaepernick and other NFL players, however, have drawn criticism from fans who believe the protests are unpatriotic and disrespect the anthem and the flag. Those objections came to a head last week when President Trump called protesting players "sons of bitches" and urged team owners to fire anyone who knelt during the anthem. In the Sunday and Monday games following Trump's remarks, which were made at a rally Sept. 22, some NFL teams responded by linking arms for the anthem, while all but one member of the Pittsburgh Steelers stayed in the locker room during that time. The Bears, who played the Steelers on Sunday at Soldier Field, showed solidarity the same way it did during Thursday's game: standing and linking arms for the anthem.

“You see, every game we stand up for the flag, as a Bear," defensive back Sherrick McManis said in a statement Sunday. "Just what was being said against us as professional athletes, we thought it was uncalled for. So we wanted to make a stance as a team, as NFL players; we united together.”

The arm-linking during the anthem wasn't the only unusual aspect of Thursday's game. Play was temporarily suspended at the end of the first quarter because of lightning. The game was delayed for about 45 minutes.

Chicago Bears players link arms during the national anthem before their game against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday, Sept. 28. (Photo by Morry Gash | Associated Press)

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