Steelers Stay In Locker Room During National Anthem; Bears Issue Statement After Trump's Attacks On NFL

CHICAGO, IL — The Pittsburgh Steelers remained in the locker room during the national anthem before the start of their game Sunday against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.

"You know these are very divisive times for our country," Head Coach Mike Tomlin told CBS. "And you know for us as a football field, it's about us remaining solid. We're not gonna be divided by anything said by anyone."

The entirety of the team will remained inside the locker room with the exception of Alejandro Villanueva, who served in the Army, and stood outside the tunnel. The Bears stood with arms locked during the national anthem.

The protest is in response to President Donald Trump's attacks on the NFL that started Friday when he said players who kneel during the national anthem should be fired and referred to them as "sons of b***hes." Trump's attacks only intensified from there as did a backlash from pro athletes who largely stand united in support for athletes who choose to exercise their First Amendment rights by kneeling during the national anthem.

Many expressed their support for the Steelers and the decision made by Tomlin.

The NFL saw a rash of such protests Sunday. In London, where the Baltimore Ravens were playing the Jacksonville Jaguars, a couple dozen players took a knee during the playing of the national anthem. Jacksonville's owner, Shahid Khan, stood in a line shoulder-to-shoulder with his players, all of their arms interlocked in solidarity. Ravens coach John Harbaugh did the same.

In a statement issued earlier on Sunday, Bears Chairman George H. McCaskey said the "divisive" political situation has unified the franchise.

Bears offensive lineman Kyle Long directly addressed Trump's NFL attacks in a tweet Saturday. He questioned the president's patriotism in his comment:

The protests began last year when Colin Kaepernick — who then played for the San Francisco 49ers — began kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial injustice. Many players then followed with their own protests. Kaepernick remains unsigned after leaving the 49ers.

As for the game between the Steelers and Bears, Chicago beat Pittsburgh in overtime, 23-17.

Patch Editor Joe Vince contributed to this report.

Photo: The Pittsburgh Steelers side of the field is nearly empty during the playing of the national anthem before an NFL football game between the Steelers and Chicago Bears, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017, in Chicago. Photo by Kiichiro Sato/Associated Press