Chiefs paint ‘End Racism’ in Arrowhead Stadium end zone (Photo)

The Kansas City Chiefs used their season opener to spread messages against racism and in support of voting

The return of the NFL on Thursday night turned into an opportunity for the Kansas City Chiefs to stand up for two relevant causes in society and sports.

The defending Super Bowl champions painted messages above each end zone to address racial injustice.

“End racism,” was the phrase on one end.

“It takes all of us,” appeared on the other end zone.

The Kansas City Chiefs painted their end zones and wore t-shirts urging voting.

Along with their end zone paint, Chiefs players came out for warmups in shirts featuring a graphic with a simple message: “Vote.”

The t-shirts continue an initiative from Kansas City encouraging citizens to vote in the upcoming presidential election. The team put out a video featuring head coach Andy Reid and players earlier this week promoting their voting drive.

The responses to the two gestures weren’t completely supportive as it turns out, particularly the first.

Push back towards the “end racism” end zone paint actually came from both sides of the divide, including those who saw it as a meaningless gesture.

“The NFL has 32 billionaires who could help enact real change if they wanted to, and they elected to write ‘end racism’ in the end zone instead,” said Harry Lyles Jr. of ESPN.

Maybe it’s fair to criticize NFL owners for not doing more to combat racism, but an end zone message calling for an end to racism isn’t hurting anybody. Except perhaps the people who replied with typical “stick to sports” mantas.

The Chiefs open the 2020 NFL season on Thursday night against the Houston Texans. It will include a mouthwatering quarterback battle between Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson, both of whom signed massive new contracts with their respective teams this month.