The NFL will mark the 25th anniversary of September 11 with a remembrance effort. All 32 clubs will take part in tributes honoring those who died, survivors, first responders, and military families. The plans combine ceremonies, charitable giving, and community service. The New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys will play a central role during their Week 1 matchup.
The league will also carry the commemoration overseas when the 49ers and Rams meet in Melbourne. A major donation will support the National September 11 Memorial & Museum and 9/11 Day. NFL Films will add personal stories connecting the tragedy to football.
The NFL is making remembrance part of Week 1
The league announced on Sept. 2 that all 32 clubs would participate in commemorative efforts throughout Week 1. The plans include “Never Forget” end zone stencils, remembrance messaging, and volunteer activities tied to the 9/11 Day of Service.
Game officials will use special 9/11 tribute-branded coins for the opening toss. Those coins will later be auctioned through NFL Auction, with proceeds benefiting the league’s September 11 charitable partners.
The NFL will also incorporate remembrance into its broadcasts. National anthem coverage will be carried live across the Sunday 1 p.m. ET games, creating a shared moment across the afternoon schedule.
Giants and Cowboys will have a prominent role
The most visible game-day tribute will come at MetLife Stadium when the Giants host the Cowboys on Sunday night, September 13. The rivalry game is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC, Peacock, and NFL+, giving the league a prime-time platform.
Giants and Cowboys players, coaches, and staff will wear commemorative NYPD, FDNY, and Port Authority Police Department hats on the sideline. Players and coaches will also wear special 9/11 “Never Forget” T-shirts during pregame warmups.
Giants-branded versions of the caps will be sold through the team store, with proceeds benefiting the respective agencies. That creates a direct connection between the tribute and the first responders being honored.
The tribute reaches beyond New York
The NFL’s plans aren’t limited to the markets most closely associated with September 11. Nearly half of the league’s clubs will partner directly with 9/11 Day on service projects, while nine teams will host projects at their stadiums.
The Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans are among those participating at their home venues. League staff, players, legends, clubs and partners will also take part in projects across multiple markets.
The NFL Foundation is putting additional resources behind the effort. In partnership with the Giants, Jets and Washington Commanders, it will make a joint $1 million contribution to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.
A further $250,000 grant will go to 9/11 Day, which promotes volunteerism as part of the federally recognized National Day of Service and Remembrance. The league will also support youth education and StoryCorps projects designed to preserve personal stories from September 11.
Melbourne adds an international dimension
One distinctive moment will take place outside the United States. The 49ers and Rams will play the NFL’s first regular-season game in Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday, September 10.
The pregame ceremony will include U.S. and Australian color guards and a large-field flag presentation involving U.S. Marines, Navy personnel, and Australian service members. Through its Salute to Service partnership with TAPS, the NFL Foundation will also support activities for military families of the fallen connected to September 11.
The remembrance will continue through NFL Films. Its upcoming feature follows Eagles general manager Howie Roseman, retired New York City firefighter Gary Bulger, and longtime NFL fan Jonathan Reiss as their personal September 11 experiences eventually intersect.
The film will premiere on Wednesday, September 9, on FS1 and will also be available through the NFL Films YouTube channel. The project explores enduring human stories of loss, sacrifice, and recovery.
Why this anniversary feels different
The 25-year milestone gives the NFL a chance to connect remembrance with a new generation of fans who weren’t alive or were too young to remember September 11 firsthand. That makes education, storytelling, and service especially important parts of the league’s approach.
Football has long provided a shared stage for national moments, and the NFL’s latest plans use that reach without making the anniversary solely about the games. The combination of ceremonies, charitable giving, personal stories, and service projects keeps the focus on people rather than spectacle.
The Giants-Cowboys matchup will draw the biggest spotlight, but the broader effort is much larger. From stadiums across the country to Melbourne, the NFL is turning Week 1 into a league-wide moment of remembrance as the 25th anniversary approaches.
Interesting fact: The NFL postponed its games scheduled for the weekend immediately following the September 11 attacks. The postponed slate was later played, extending the regular season and playoffs.
TL;DR
- All 32 NFL clubs will participate in the 25th-anniversary September 11 tributes during Week 1.
- Giants-Cowboys will feature special first-responder hats and “Never Forget” warm-up shirts.
- The NFL Foundation and three teams will contribute $1 million to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.
- Another $250,000 grant will support 9/11 Day service efforts.
- The 49ers-Rams game in Melbourne will feature U.S. and Australian ceremonial elements.
- NFL Films will spotlight personal September 11 stories involving Howie Roseman and others.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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