The NFL has confirmed that it will remove the “End Racism” slogan from the end zones at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans before Sunday’s Super Bowl. Instead, the field will feature the phrase “Choose Love” as the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy announced Tuesday.
Throughout the 2024-25 season, NFL teams have displayed various pro-diversity messages in stadiums and on uniforms as part of the league’s Inspire Change initiative. Since 2020, the league has incorporated field stencils with messages such as “Vote,” “End Racism,” “Stop Hate,” and “Choose Love.”
At the conference championship games on Jan. 26, the Chiefs had “Choose Love” stenciled in their end zone, while the Eagles displayed “End Racism.” For this year’s Super Bowl, only “Choose Love” will be featured—marking the first time since February 2021 that “End Racism” will not be included in the game’s end zone artwork.
According to NBC News, McCarthy explained that the decision was influenced by recent national tragedies, including the California wildfires, the terrorist attack in New Orleans, and recent plane crashes near Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia.
“The Super Bowl often serves as a snapshot of the times, and the NFL is in a unique position to capture and inspire the country,” McCarthy said. “‘Choose Love’ is an appropriate message given the hardships the nation has faced in recent weeks.”
The league’s announcement coincides with news that President Donald Trump will attend the Super Bowl, marking the first time a sitting president has done so. The Secret Service has confirmed heightened security measures, with extensive coordination between federal, state, and local agencies to ensure the safety of attendees, players, and staff.
Trump has made his opposition to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs clear since taking office, signing an executive order on his first day to eliminate DEI initiatives in federal agencies. Following last week’s fatal collision between an American Airlines plane and an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, D.C., Trump again criticized DEI policies, implying they contributed to the disaster.
Despite Trump’s stance, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell defended the league’s diversity policies at a press conference Monday, insisting they align with past and current administrations.
“Our policies are designed to be legally sound and effective in widening the talent pipeline,” Goodell said. “There are no quotas in our system—this is about attracting the best talent to the NFL.”
Goodell emphasized that the league’s diversity efforts will continue, stating, “We believe these initiatives strengthen the NFL, and our commitment to them remains unchanged.”
Trump is the first modern-day sitting president to attend the Big Game. For more of Reel 360’s Super Bowl coverage, click here.
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