Why the Super Bowl Field Will Look Different This Year

Since 2021, the end zones in many NFL games have featured the words “End Racism” emblazoned on the white-painted grass. But for this year’s Super Bowl, don’t expect to see the slogan there.

On Feb. 3, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell spoke to reporters ahead of Super Bowl LIX this weekend and addressed a number of questions, including the removal of the phrase from future games. According to The Athletic, Goodell said he was “proud” of the league’s diversity efforts as many corporations and institutions are doing away with their diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

“We got into diversity efforts because we felt it was the right thing for the National Football League,” Goodell said. “And we’re going to continue those efforts, because we’ve not only convinced ourselves, we’ve proven it to ourselves — it does make the NFL better.”

Though some might believe the move was done in anticipation of President Trump‘s historic attendance at the game, NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy said the decision was made in light of recent tragedies like the New Year’s Day terrorist attack in New Orleans, the wildfires that ravaged the Los Angeles area, and the tragic plane and helicopter crash near Washington, D.C.

Instead of “End Racism,” the end zone borders this year will bear the words “It Takes All of Us” in a nod to the power of community during trying times like these. “We felt it was an appropriate statement for what the country has collectively endured, given recent tragedies, and can serve as an inspiration,” McCarthy said.

The NFL began rolling out slogans like “End Racism,” “It Takes All of Us,” “Stop Hate,” “Choose Love,” and “Vote” in 2020 as a part of its “Inspire Change” platform launched in 2018. It remains to be seen if “End Racism” will be featured on NFL fields again after this year’s Super Bowl.

Super Bowl LIX kicks off Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m. ET from Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.