Nate Boyer, a six-year Army vet who served multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, inspired the idea of taking a knee during the National Anthem. In late August, 2016, the former Green Beret and Seattle Seahawks long-snapper, was at home in Los Angeles when a call came from the San Francisco 49ers on quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s behalf.
Days earlier, Boyer penned an open letter to Kaeprnick on ArmyTimes.com,
WATCH ABOVE: Boyer called in to NFL Daily with Chat Sports and discussed Kaepernick, Trump, NFL players, the military, and more today on Chat Sports Facebook Live on NFL Daily, which airs at 6pm ET every M-F, and at 7:30pm on Sunday.
With the 49ers set to play their preseason finale in San Diego, Kaepernick invited Boyer to the game and sent an Uber to drive him the roughly 120 miles through Southern California. The destination was the Westin hotel in downtown San Diego, where the Niners were staying. Boyer, Kaepernick and 49ers safety Eric Reid sat in the Westin lobby in front of a large window discussing their perspectives on the issue.
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"He actually showed us the text messages that his buddies were sending, how they said they were pissed about what he did, but they still understood why he was doing it," Reid said. "Which led to the decision for him to not sit but to take a knee, to show respect to the people that felt hurt by that action."
Boyer suggested Kaepernick join his teammates during the anthem rather than isolating himself and agreed taking a knee was more respectful way to protest inequalities.
With the entire world discussing the feud between NFL players/owners/coaches and President Donald Trump, Boyer and Kaepernick's meeting could be considered a historic event when we look back on this time period in American history.
WATCH BELOW: Boyer discussed Kaepernick, Trump, NFL players, the military, and more today on Chat Sports Facebook Live on NFL Daily, which airs at 6pm ET every M-F, and at 7:30pm on Sunday.
Shout out to friend of Chat Sports, Shawn Abboud, for connecting us with Nate!
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