NFL’s 9/11 tributes to be held throughout Week 1 to honor 25th anniversary

It’s been 25 years since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, killed thousands of Americans and impacted millions around the globe. At the time, the NFL was one of the major U.S. institutions to make a monumental change to their schedule, moving Week 2 of the 2001 NFL season until January 2002 and pushing back the Super Bowl by a week. Outside of labor stoppages, it’s the only time in NFL history the league has not played a weekend’s slate of games.

This year, the NFL will commemorate the 25th anniversary of those events in multiple countries as part of their Week 1 kickoff weekend. Those games run from Sept. 9 through Sept. 14, 2026.

Every Week 1 game will feature 9/11 commemorative branding and ceremonies

Every home team at the Week 1 games will feature tributes to first responders and military families while honoring those who lost their lives and survived the attacks.

“Never Forget” will be stenciled in the end zones alongside other stadium branding and game officials will use a “9/11 tribute-branded coin” for the coin toss. Those coins will be auctioned off after the game with the proceeds going to September 11 charities benefiting survivors, first responders, and commemorative efforts.

The Sunday Night Football game hosted by the New York Giants will feature a massive 9/11 tribute.

Players, coaches and staff from both teams will wear commemorative NYPD, FDNY and PAPD hats on the sideline in recognition of the first responders who served on September 11 and in the days that followed. Players and coaches from both teams will also wear special 9/11-branded “Never Forget” T-shirts during pregame warmups.

Television broadcasts will share these stadium tributes

Normally, NFL TV broadcasts go to the local stadiums close to kickoff for a few short words from the commentators to set the scene. During Week 1, the television broadcasts will include the national anthem performances at the stadiums for the 1:00 p.m. Eastern kickoffs.

The NFL is donating money to memorials in Washington DC and New York City

The New York Jets and Washington Commanders are on the road for Week 1, but the Giants host Sunday Night Football against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1. New York City and Washington, DC, bore the largest brunt of the attacks and have memorials to the victims. The NFL, alongside these three teams, will make donations to these memorials.

The NFL Foundation, in partnership with the New York Giants, New York Jets and Washington Commanders, will make a joint $1 million contribution to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. The investment reflects a shared commitment to preserving the legacy of September 11 and ensuring future generations understand the historical significance of that day, the lives affected and the acts of courage and service that followed.

The NFL Foundation will further direct an added $250,000 grant to 9/11 Day, the nonprofit that each year inspires tens of millions of Americans of all ages to volunteer and do good deeds in observance of the federally recognized September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance.

Many NFL teams are also volunteering on 9/11 Day in their local communities and the NFL will also provide financial assistance to two organizations preserving the legacy of the day.

NFL Films produces a 9/11 remembrance tribute video

NFL Films has produced several 9/11 tributes over the years, and you can watch them on the NFL Films YouTube page here. They are producing a new retrospective this year centered around the delayed Super Bowl in February 2002.

NFL Films Presents tells the remarkable story of three seemingly unconnected men whose 9/11 stories and legacies intertwined against the backdrop of Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.

Philadelphia Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman, retired New York City firefighter Gary Bulger and lifelong NFL fan Jonathan Reiss each tell their personal 9/11 experiences of shock, loss and sacrifice, and recount the convergence of their stories in New Orleans nearly 25 years later.

The documentary will premiere on FS1 and the NFL Films YouTube channel on September 9th.

NFL’s Australia game will also honor the victims of 9/11

Despite the game taking place on another continent, the league’s first game in Australia will include a tribute for September 11th, as well. There will be a large-field flag before the game with members of the United States and Australian armed services.

Melbourne has a Shrine of Remembrance to honor those who have served in any war and the NFL plans to hold a ceremony there before the game.