ESPN Says It Won't Air the National Anthem Before NFL Games This Year

ESPN has opted not to air the national anthem this season according to multiple sources. The announcement was made during the network's media day on Friday when president, Jimmy Pitaro, said the anthem wouldn't be televised for NFL or college games.

This isn't unprecedented, however. ESPN occasionally aired the national anthem during its Monday Night Football games prior to the 2017 season. Last year the anthem was televised during the 16th anniversary of 9/11, and again when the Washington Redskins faced off against the Kansas City Chiefs following the Las Vegas massacre.

Pitaro's message to the network was to remember that ESPN is about sports first and will touch on politics when those issues become relevant within a sports context.

Source: vox.com