NFL Focused on Voting Registration, Education Initiative on Virtual Owners Call

The NFL held a virtual meeting with owners during which the league laid out its intention to focus on social causes, including voter registration and education.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, "voting was consistently stressed" when commissioner Roger Goodell spoke with players in recent weeks.

Following the killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, many Americans have protested and demonstrated to seek meaningful reforms addressing social inequality, systemic racism and police brutality.

Goodell issued his first statement on the situation in May. Some critics believed the sentiment fell short, especially since former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick hasn't played a snap since he attempted to raise awareness of the same issues in 2016.

A group of NFL players sent a video message asking the league to formally state it "condemn[s] racism and the systematic oppression of Black people" and erred in not supporting the players who followed Kaepernick's lead in protesting.

Goodell offered a response shortly thereafter:

The NFL also announced on June 11 it was planning to donate $250 million over 10 years "to combat systemic racism and support the battle against the ongoing and historic injustices faced by African-Americans."