Stance on Kap, anthem detailed
Last year, Jed York publicly supported his protesting quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, and matched his $1 million donation to underserved communities.
This season, the 49ers’ CEO had perhaps the most strongly worded statement in response to President Trump’s inflammatory comments about protesting NFL players, and said 49ers players would not be forced to stand during the national anthem. York’s stance is in opposition to many of his peers. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, for example, has threatened to bench players who don’t stand for the anthem.
On Thursday, York, who last year made the 49ers the first NFL team to speak out against North Carolina’s bathroom law, which many believed discriminated against the LGBT community, was asked about his progressive views. What has shaped him? “I would say living in California and opening my mind to talking to people that aren’t necessarily like me,” York said. “Growing up in Youngstown, Ohio — Youngstown is not the most progressive place
in the world . ...
“So for me to meet with the LGBT community, for me to meet with folks that have different racial backgrounds and different ethnic backgrounds, different socioeconomic backgrounds, everything starts with conversation. And the more you can have conversations, the more you can see where other people are coming from. And I think the more enlightened you can be.”
From a players’ standpoint, York has been among the more enlightened owners on the anthem issue and their First Amendment rights.
However, York didn’t agree that Kaepernick, the first player to not stand for the anthem, remains unemployed because owners have agreed to not sign him. On Sunday, Kaepernick filed a grievance against owners claiming they participated in collusion. York was asked if Kaepernick has been treated fairly.
“It’s very difficult for me to say that, with Colin being here for a long period of time,” York said. “Obviously, there’s the lawsuit that’s going on, so it’s hard for me to get into any details or really share my opinion. But I don’t believe that there’s base to that claim that he’s being blackballed.”
York spoke two days after he was among a group of 11 NFL owners who had extended conversations with 12 current and former players about ongoing anthem protests to raise awareness to issues such as racial inequality.
On Wednesday, 49ers safety Eric Reid said he emerged from the meeting prepared to eventually stand for the anthem. The owners agreed to support social causes that have prompted players to protest, but Reid said he will continue to kneel until more specifics are offered.
“We would like to get back to just playing football,” York said. “I don’t think anyone should be ashamed of saying that, because our fans are telling you that we want to get back to playing football. But our players are telling you that we want to be heard clearly and loudly. And that’s what we’re trying to figure out.
“We encourage you to stand, but we’re not requiring you to do anything. You can express yourself, but we want you to stand because you want to stand . ... And we want to make our country and our communities a better place — not because you’re forcing us to, but because we’re compelled to.”
York did talk some football Thursday. After York hired head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch in the offseason, the 49ers are 0-6. However, they have become the first team in NFL history to lose five straight games by three points or fewer.
“We want to get our team back to championship-caliber level,” York said. “I think that’s the trajectory that we’re on. The results might not show it. But, I think the feeling that you get around this building and the feeling that you get talking to the players and the coaches, we’re much closer than what our record would suggest.”