NFL Was “Too Woke”

The NFL has recently been criticized by many including Lauren Bobert for becoming "too woke." This refers to the idea that the league has become too politically correct and is attempting to make a statement on social issues of the games being too “black,” rather than focusing on the sport itself. 

In 2023, the NFL is facing criticism for having too many black players. This is a significant issue, as the league has been accused of encouraging a “blackification” of football, which some argue is leading to a homogenization (the feat of culture) of the game. While it is undeniable that the NFL has become more diverse in recent years, the league has taken steps to ensure that the sport remains accessible to all players regardless of race.

 Lauren Bobert was one of the people who were not happy with the Super Bowl being to woke. On her Twitter account stated, “America only has ONE NATIONAL ANTHEM. Why is the NFL trying to divide us by playing multiple!? Do football, not wokeness.” When she spoke about the national anthem, she was meaning that at the Superbowl, there was an anthem that has been said to be, “The black Nation Anthem.” 

The NFL has implemented a number of initiatives to make sure that black players have a fair chance to compete for positions in the league. In an interview with Joel Richards, he stated, “I didn’t really watch the Superbowl, I was just betting on the Chiefs. Although I have heard about rumors going on about the games being ‘too unfair’ I don’t see how that can be because as a black person, I don’t think there would be any unfair advantages and that they are just reaching.” 

The Rooney Rule, for instance, requires teams to interview at least one minority candidate for any head coaching or front office position. Additionally, the league has also implemented a number of programs that are designed to provide financial assistance and educational opportunities to young African American athletes. These initiatives have been instrumental in helping to make the NFL more diverse, and it is clear that the league is working hard to ensure that it is not too “black”. Despite the criticism, the NFL has made significant progress in terms of racial diversity and should be commended for its efforts.