NFL kick off: How fans and petitions are shaping the league

As the 2024 NFL regular season kicks off, football fans are not only gearing up to support their favorite teams but also making their voices heard on critical issues impacting the league. From advocating for player safety to ensuring accessibility for all, NFL-related petitions on Change.org have gathered momentum, and some have even led to victories. Here’s a look at the most influential petitions that are shaping and already impacting the NFL.

Accessibility for all: Adding closed captioning to NFL videos

Ensuring that NFL content is accessible to all fans is central to a petition urging the league to add closed captioning to all of its videos. This movement struck a chord with Bryan, a child of deaf adults who watched his parents often feel excluded from the full NFL experience.

Bryan started his petition on behalf of his brother, who is also deaf and would always ask him, “What are they saying?” Supporters of the petition argue that in a digital age, it’s critical for the NFL to ensure that its content can be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of physical ability. This campaign has sparked a larger conversation about accessibility in sports, with many fans pushing for more inclusive measures across the league’s platforms. It has more than 50,000 signatures. 

Keeping football accessible: Traditional broadcasting rights

In a rapidly changing media landscape, a petition urging the NFL to maintain traditional broadcasting access has resonated with fans, particularly those in rural or low-income areas. As streaming services continue to claim a larger share of the sports market, this petition highlights the fear of traditional broadcasts becoming exclusive to premium services. This would leave millions of fans without access to their favorite games.

This petition sparked a broader discussion about the role of professional sports leagues in ensuring their content remains accessible to all fans, without requiring expensive subscriptions. Fans hope the NFL will prioritize inclusivity in its future broadcasting decisions.

Player safety: The push for real grass in stadiums

A petition calling for the NFL to replace artificial turf with real grass in all stadiums has become a focal point in the ongoing discussion about player safety. The “Flip the Turf” movement highlights the increased risk of injury associated with artificial turf and advocates for the NFL to make the switch to grass fields, which are believed to be safer for players.

With growing concerns over the long-term health effects of injuries sustained on turf, including knee and ankle injuries, this petition has received widespread support from players, coaches, and fans alike. It calls on the NFL to prioritize player health over cost savings, especially as player safety remains one of the league’s most talked-about issues. More than 30,000 people have signed this petition. 

Changing the rules: NFL overtime reforms

Another widely supported petition calls for a change to the NFL’s overtime rules, specifically for both regular and postseason games. This petition came after the 2022 game between the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs, which resulted in overtime play decided by a coin toss. Fans have long debated the fairness of the current sudden-death format, which often disadvantages teams if they lose the coin toss.

This petition echoes the sentiment that overtime should allow both teams an equal opportunity to possess the ball. It’s gained significant attention following other high-profile games where teams never had a chance to respond in overtime. The movement calls for the NFL to adopt a more equitable system to ensure that the outcome of games is decided on the field, not by chance. More than 15,000 people have signed. 

Fighting discrimination: Racial disparities in NFL concussion settlements

One of the more serious petitions about the NFL centers around the racial discrimination that has been identified in the NFL’s concussion settlement program. With more than 50,000 signatures, this petition sought justice for Black former NFL players who alleged they were systematically denied compensation due to biased algorithms used in evaluating cognitive decline.

This movement drew attention to the larger issue of racial inequality within the league and its handling of player health. Supporters of the petition pushed for a fair and transparent evaluation process that doesn’t discriminate based on race, ensuring that all players receive the compensation they deserve for the long-term health effects of their NFL careers. The petition is now marked as a confirmed victory, and you can read more about the petition starter’s efforts throughout the campaign in the update section. 

Honoring heroes: Retiring Pat Tillman’s #40 league-wide

One of the most significant NFL petitions was the call to retire Pat Tillman’s #40 jersey league-wide. Tillman, an NFL star who left the league to serve in the U.S. Army following 9/11, tragically lost his life in Afghanistan. This petition, which has garnered significant attention, urged the NFL to honor Tillman’s legacy by ensuring no player ever wears #40 again. Supporters argued that Tillman’s sacrifice transcends football and represents a greater sense of duty, courage, and selflessness.

This effort reflects the growing demand from fans to see the NFL recognize its role not just as a sports league but as a cultural institution that can celebrate larger-than-life figures who leave an enduring impact on society. The NFL recognized the petition by saying, “We admire your idea and your drive to pay tribute to Pat Tillman but we have chosen some other ways to honor Pat and the many others who have defended our country.” 

Although the petition was marked a victory, many are still pushing to retire his jersey to this day. The Cardinals have, however, retired his jersey, along with the number Tillman wore during his time at Arizona State. At the time the petition closed, it had more than 80,000 signatures. 

Fun and family: Mama Kelce and the Super Bowl coin toss

On a lighter note, a fan-favorite petition is the one that called for Mama Kelce — the mother of NFL stars Travis and Jason Kelce — to flip the coin at the 2023 Super Bowl, where both of her sons faced off representing the Chiefs and the Eagles. After her two sons made history as the first brothers to compete against each other in a Super Bowl, fans rallied behind the idea of letting Donna Kelce have the honor of officiating the coin toss at the championship game.

While this petition doesn’t address a major policy or player safety issue, it showcases the way fans embrace the human stories behind the NFL’s biggest moments. With over 200,000 signatures, this campaign brought joy to football communities and illuminated the family spirit that so many fans cherish.

A Super Bowl spectacle: Performing “Sweet Victory”

Last but certainly not least, the petition to play “Sweet Victory,” a song made famous by SpongeBob SquarePants, at the Super Bowl halftime show captured the imagination of fans. The petition represented the unique ways in which pop culture and football intersect, and six years later, more than 1 million fans signed this petition and finally got their wish. 

This light-hearted petition is a reminder that the NFL, while a major sports league, is also a part of the broader entertainment culture. Fans who grew up watching both football and SpongeBob saw this as a chance to honor nostalgia, as well as pay a tribute to the creator of SpongeBob, who had recently passed away. And of course, fans also were eager to celebrate one of the most iconic songs to grace both TV screens and football stadiums alike.

How you can make a difference this season

The power of fans to influence the NFL is undeniable. Whether it’s pushing for changes to player safety protocols, advocating for more equitable treatment, or injecting lighthearted family fun into big football moments, these petitions highlight how everyday people can shape the future of the league. 

With the start of the 2024 regular season, fans are more engaged than ever, showing that their voices matter in addressing serious issues and making football more inclusive and exciting for everyone. As we watch this NFL season unfold, you, too, have the opportunity to make an impact. If there’s an issue you’re passionate about, consider starting your own petition on Change.org. The NFL is more than just a league; it’s a community shaped by the voices of millions. By creating your own petition, you can help ensure that your voice is heard and be part of the change you want to see in the game you love.