NFL Reportedly Makes Star QB Remove ‘Know Jesus, Know Peace’ T-Shirt
Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III was told to remove his “Know Jesus, Know Peace” T-shirt before a news conference, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Reporter Michael Phillips posted on Twitter that Tony McGee, an NFL uniform inspector, made Griffin turn the shirt inside-out because it wasn’t a Nike product.
NFL bylaws bar players from wear clothing that sends a personal message on game days.
“Throughout the period on game-day that a player is visible to the stadium and television audience (including in pre-game warm-ups, in the bench area, and during post-game interviews in the locker room or on the field), players are prohibited from wearing, displaying, or otherwise conveying personal messages either in writing or illustration, unless such message has been approved in advance by the League office,” NFL bylaws state (Section 4, Article 8).
However, other players—like Redskins linebacker Ryan Kerrigan—wore T-shirts with other brands without incident. Kerrigan’s t-shirt displayed a logo for Five Four Clothing.
CSN-Washington reports the Redskins denied they forced Griffin to flip his shirt and that he did so to avoid a possible fine.