Humility has never been an acceptable thing to ask for in the NFL, and it’s especially not cool to do so in 2024. It is racist, and this article will prove why.
Sometimes the word “racist” or the focus on racism can be off-putting to people. That’s almost always from the perspective of people who have the luxury of not having to think about its impacts on their own lives.
People who have that advantage should spend more time sitting with that uncomfortable feeling that comes up and listening (and reading) through it.
The Root of the Problem in the NFL
In the NFL, a league that is predominantly black on the player side and majority white on the coaching, front office, and leadership sides is going to create tension. Just like in America at large. Because this imbalance isn’t a good thing, and it’s just not that different from the racism America was built on.
Now what does that have to do with humility and the emphasis on being “humble” in the NFL? Why does the six-letter H word make this author’s skin boil? That’s up next.
No More Humble Pie, Please
Humility has been a term that is almost exclusively used to quiet people down. If a person stays in their lane and is grateful for it, then they don’t challenge anyone. The status quo can march on.
Humility is an unfair imposition on anyone in the NFL. You’re the best of the best; you get paid millions of dollars, and you work your butt off 365 days of the year to keep your place in a competitive league. You earned the right to have pride in yourself and advocate for yourself accordingly.
The expectation for humility is higher for African Americans in the league, though. And that expectation is rooted in racism. The knee-jerk reaction fans have that’s stronger against black players who don’t fit the mold? That’s because of racism, too.
The “Cam Newtons” of the League
Some people get that knee-jerk reaction from just reading Cam Newton’s name. Newton tried humble on for a couple minutes, and he threw it away. Why does that bother people so badly?
Why does Russell Wilson wanting to have more of a say about what was going on personnel-wise while he was with the Seattle Seahawks bother people so much?
As soon as Wilson didn’t crack a good-natured smile, he was traded away, and his name got smeared. If he had just stayed in his lane, he would probably still be with that NFL franchise.
Research does show that black quarterbacks face double standards. The demand for play is higher, while things like pay are lower. There isn’t much research, mostly just anecdotal evidence rooted in historical fact, that black players personalities are policed more with higher expectations for conformity and compliance.
So where does this expectation of humility come from? Brace yourselves.
Nat Turner Was Not Humble
Nat Turner has the answer for you. Who is Nat Turner, you ask? He was the only enslaved person who was able to successfully create and sustain a slave rebellion way back in 1831. The preacher was captured and hung just weeks after the end of the revolt, but his legacy lives on forever.
Nat Turner destroyed the concept that existed at the time that black people were either content or just not capable of protesting their lot in life.
Nat Turner demolished the idea that “black slaves were perfect retainers, humble, loyal, gentle, content with their lot, devoted to their owners.” He set the “preferred racial dynamic in which blacks are humble, grateful, and reliant upon whites” on its head.
Turner set fear in the hearts of oppressors everywhere. Unfortunately, this did create an incredibly strong backlash to try to prevent something like this from happening again.
Suddenly, in America, there were the “Nat Turners” and the “not Nat Turners.” Obviously, different names were used, but they are mostly problematic at best and not something the author can or should write.
The terms are typically used by people outside of the black community and are used to further divide people, so since we now understand them, we can move on.
History and the Modern NFL Intersect
Let’s bring that back to the NFL. Obviously, Nat Turner’s slave rebellion doesn’t perfectly fit. We don’t have slavery, rebellions, or really opinionated preachers (most of the time).
But our modern list of words, used to describe the expectations and preferences for player behavior and personalities, are alarmingly similar to the terms used for “ideal” enslaved individuals in the 1830s.
For example, arrogance (instead of a healthy level of pride) is used to describe a lack of humility in Cam Newton here. Lamar Jackson was told he should be grateful for being part of an organization like the Baltimore Ravens, and the NFL should stop catering to thugs and prima donnas (yes, real people said that). Colin Kaepernick is still being criticized for not staying humble, and he’s not even in the league anymore.
When players don’t fit the above-imposed mold, there’s immediate and swift “consequences.” Their reputations are destroyed, their skill levels are called into question, and the desire is for them to come back with the “correct” attitude.
It is not acceptable that humility is an assumed standard for a league that has a predominantly black athletic component. It isn’t okay when an NFL player has to forsake themselves to fit in a mold that isn’t their own.
It is absolutely not right when a player decides they want to advocate for themselves and words like “humble” and “gratitude” are thrown at them. It feels ickier now that you know where those words originate from, doesn’t it?
The NFL needs people of all different humility levels. Embrace the Cam Newtons! NFL franchises should be grateful for their players.
Want to read more truth bombs from a woman who could never quite maintain a “servant’s heart” or “keep sweet”? You can find her articles here.
Read about Fritz Pollard, the first black NFL head coach and quarterback ever, here. He was a trailblazer who approached life with more poise and grace than the world deserved.
