As of January 16, 2025, there are no credible reports indicating that the Minnesota Vikings’ head coach has fired any players for refusing to stand during the U.S. national anthem. This claim appears to be unfounded and may stem from misinformation or satirical sources.
In the past, the NFL has faced controversies regarding players’ protests during the national anthem. In 2018, the league implemented a policy requiring players to stand if they are on the field during the anthem, allowing those who did not wish to stand to remain in the locker room. Teams could be fined if players did not comply, and individual clubs were permitted to develop their own rules to handle such situations.
The Minnesota Vikings have historically encouraged players to stand for the anthem. In 2018, then-head coach Mike Zimmer expressed his views, stating, “I think it’s important we stand for the anthem. I think it’s important we represent our country the right way—the flag the right way.” Notably, during that period, no Vikings players were reported to have knelt during the anthem.
It’s worth noting that misinformation regarding NFL teams and anthem protests has circulated in the past. For instance, in October 2023, a satirical article falsely claimed that Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton had fired two players for refusing to stand for the national anthem. This story was debunked and labeled as satire.
Given the lack of credible evidence and the potential for misinformation, it’s important to verify such claims through reliable sources before accepting them as fact. As of now, there is no substantiated information supporting the claim that the Vikings’ head coach has fired players for anthem protests.
