Why NFL players are wearing flags on their helmets to promote ‘International Diversity’ during Week 4-5 games

The NFL is rolling out a new initiative to celebrate “international diversity” within the league over the next two weeks.

On Weeks 4 and 5 in the NFL, players will wear decals of flags representing their nationality or cultural heritage. They will continue to wear the American flag on their helmets, but if they either spent two years living in another country or have a parent or grandparent who was born there they can represent that country as well.

It coincides nicely with the opening of the NFL’s international series, which will see the Saints playing the Vikings in London.

According to a statement from the league, over 200 players will be wearing the decals to represent their heritage.

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Why are NFL players wearing flags on their helmets?

Per the NFL, this initiative seeks to “showcase the global influence on the league and recognize the impact that those contributing nations across the world have had on NFL rosters today…”

Coaches, meanwhile, will wear flag pins on game day instead.

“The NFL is proud of the extensive collection of nationalities and heritage of its players across the league,” commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “We recognize the many cultures they represent and the excitement they bring to their home fans, which ultimately helps grow our game.”

The league highlights Kyler Murray (South Korea), Amon-Ra St. Brown (Germany) and Tua Tagovailoa (Samoa) as players who will participate. 

A full list of players and coaches who will be wearing flag stickers and pins, respectively, is below:

NFL players wearing flags on helmets

Player Team Flag
Ola Adeniyi Tennessee Titans Nigeria
McTelvin Agaim Denver Broncos Nigeria
Nelson Agholor New England Patriots Nigeria
Isaac Alarcon Dallas Cowboys Mexico
Mo Alie Cox Indianapolis Colts Sierra Leone
Tyler Allgeier Atlanta Falcons Philippines
Ugo Amadi Tennessee Titans Nigeria
Bradlee Anae New York Jets Samoa
David Anenih Pittsburgh Steelers Nigeria
Alex Anzalone Detroit Lions Italy
Eli Apple Cincinnati Bengals Ghana
JJ Arcega-Whiteside Seattle Seahawks Spain
Brian Asamoah Minnesota Vikings Ghana
Kayode Awosika Detroit Lions Nigeria
Chidobe Awuzie Cincinnati Bengals Nigeria
David Bada Washington Commanders Germany
Ben Banogu Indianapolis Colts Nigeria
Essang Bassey Denver Broncos Nigeria
Giovani Bernard Tampa Bay Buccaneers Haiti
Braxton Berrios New York Jets Puerto Rico
Curtis Bolton Las Vegas Raiders Italy
Kendrick Bourne New England Patriots American Samoa
Camryn Bynum Minnesota Vikings Philippines
Jason Cabinda Detroit Lions Cameroon
Chase Claypool Pittsburgh Steelers Canada
Sam Cosmi Washington Commanders Romania
Britain Covey Philadelphia Eagles Chile
Christian Covington Los Angeles Chargers Canada
Marcel Dabo Indianapolis Colts Germany
Dennis Daley Tennessee Titans Jamaica
Scott Daly Detroit Lions Ireland
Michael Dickson Seattle Seahawks Australia
Victor Dimukeje Arizona Cardinals Nigeria
Michael Dogbe Arizona Cardinals Nigeria
Aaron Donkor Seattle Seahawks Germany
Greg Dulcich Denver Broncos Croatia
Michael Dwumfour Houston Texans Ghana
Dominik Eberle Detroit Lions Germany
Arnold Ebitketie Atlanta Falcons Cameroon
Samson Ebukam San Francisco 49ers Nigeria
Chuma Edoga Atlanta Falcons Nigeria
Sam Eguavoen Miami Dolphins Nigeria
Dieter Eiselen Chicago Bears South Africa
Daniel Ekuale New England Patriots American Samoa
Ikem Ekwonu Carolina Panthers Nigeria
Jermaine Eluemunour Las Vegas Raiders Nigeria
Obinna Eze Detroit Lions Nigeria
Joshua Ezeudu New York Giants Nigeria
Daniel Faalele Baltimore Ravens Australia
Olakunle Fatukasi Tampa Bay Buccaneers Nigeria
Nick Folk New England Patriots Germany
Leki Fotu Arizona Cardinals Tonga
Hjalte Froholdt Cleveland Browns Denmark
Neville Gallimore Dallas Cowboys Canada
Graham Gano New York Giants Scotland
Max Garcia Arizona Cardinals Mexico
Trenton Gill Chicago Bears Canada
Josh Gordon Tennessee Titans Haiti
Adam Gotsis Jacksonville Jaguars Australia
Alfredo Gutierrez San Francisco 49ers Mexico
Troy Hairston Houston Texans Panama
Kyle Hamilton Baltimore Ravens South Korea
Devery Hamilton New York Giants Germany
N’Keal Harry Chicago Bears St. Vincent
Khalil Herbert Chicago Bears Jamaica
Will Hernandez Arizona Cardinals Mexico
Michael Hoecht Los Angeles Rams Canada
Jevon Holland Miami Dolphins Canada
Sam Howell Washington Commanders South Korea
Brian Hoyer New England Patriots Germany
Chuba Hubbard Carolina Panthers Canada
Talanoa Hufanga San Francisco 49ers Tonga
Germain Ifedi Atlanta Falcons Nigeria
Noah Igbinoghene Miami Dolphins Nigeria
Alaric Jackson Los Angeles Rams Canada
Josh Jacobs Las Vegas Raiders Philippines
Tony Jefferson New York Giants Mexico
Jerry Jeudy Denver Broncos Haiti
Kingsley Johnathan Chicago Bears Nigeria
Jakob Johnson Las Vegas Raiders Germany
Cam Johnston Houston Texans Australia
Patrick Jones Minnesota Vikings Japan
Kerby Joseph Detroit Lions Haiti
Matt Judon New England Patriots Burundi
Joshua Kalu Tennessee Titans Nigeria
George Karlaftis Kansas City Chiefs Greece
Kio Kieft Tampa Bay Buccaneers Netherlands
Javon Kinlaw San Francisco 49ers Trinidad & Tobago
Kader Kohou Miami Dolphins Ivory Coast
Jonathan Kongbo Denver Broncos Republic of Congo
Younghoe Koo Atlanta Falcons South Korea
Tanoh Kpassagnon New Orleans Saints Ivory Coast
Tyler Kroft San Francisco 49ers Germany
William Kwenkeu Minnesota Vikings Cameroon
Nate Landman Atlanta Falcons Zimbabwe
Harvey Langi New England Patriots Tonga
Tyler Larsen Washington Commanders Norway
Matt Leo Philadelphia Eagles Australia
Deane Leonard Los Angeles Chargers Canada
Jesse Luketa Arizona Cardinals Canada
Frankie Luvu Carolina Panthers American Samoa
Boye Mafe Seattle Seahawks Nigeria
Jordan Mailata Philadelphia Eagles Australia
Marcus Mariota Atlanta Falcons American Samoa
Roy Mbaeteka New York Giants Nigeria
Devin McCourty New England Patriots Jamaica
Tre’ McKitty Los Angeles Chargers Jamaica
Ifeatu Melifonwu Detroit Lions Nigeria
Sony Michel Los Angeles Chargers Haiti
Marken Michel Washington Commanders Haiti
DJ Moore Carolina Panthers Jamaica
Israel Mukuamu Dallas Cowboys Republic of Congo
Kyler Murray Arizona Cardinals South Korea
Netane Muti Denver Broncos Tonga
Yannick Ngakoue Indianapolis Colts Martinique
David Njoku Cleveland Browns Nigeria
Derrick Nnadi Kansas City Chiefs Nigeria
Rakeem Nunez-Roches Tampa Bay Buccaneers Belize
Kene Nwangwu Minnesota Vikings Nigeria
Uchenna Nwosu Seattle Seahawks Nigeria
Efe Obada Washington Commanders United Kingdom
Adedayo Odeleye Houston Texans United Kingdom
Ifeadi Odenigbo Indianapolis Colts Nigeria
Dayo Odenyingbo Indianapolis Colts Nigeria
Osa Odighizuwa Dallas Cowboys Nigeria
Thomas Odukoya Tennessee Titans Netherlands
Emmanuel Ogbah Miami Dolphins Nigeria
Amen Ogbongbemiga Los Angeles Chargers Nigeria
Dare Ogunbowale Houston Texans Nigeria
Ade Ogundeji Atlanta Falcons Nigeria
Larry Ogunjobi Pittsburgh Steelers Nigeria
Michael Ojemudia Denver Broncos Nigeria
Bobby Okereke Indianapolis Colts Nigeria
Chigoziem Okonkwo Tennessee Titans Nigeria
Chukuma Okorakor Pittsburgh Steelers Nigeria
Ogbonnia Okoronkwo Houston Texans Nigeria
Jeff Okudah Detroit Lions Nigeria
Julian Okwara Detroit Lions Nigeria
Albert Okwuegbunam Denver Broncos Nigeria
Chris Olave New Orleans Saints Cuba
Segun Olubi Indianapolis Colts Nigeria
Foye Oluokun Jacksonville Jaguars Nigeria
Charles Omenihu San Francisco 49ers Nigeria
Michael Onwenu New England Patriots Nigeria
Iosua Opeta Philadelphia Eagles American Samoa
Amani Oruwariye Detroit Lions Nigeria
Odafe Oweh Baltimore Ravens Nigeria
Jeremiah Owusu-Koromoah Cleveland Browns Ghana
Ayo Oyelola Jacksonville Jaguars United Kingdom
Devine Ozigbo Denver Broncos Nigeria
Joshua Palmer Los Angeles Chargers Canada
Zach Pascal Philadelphia Eagles Grenada
Darrin Paulo Detroit Lions American Samoa
Kwity Paye Indianapolis Colts Liberia
Matthew Peart New York Giants Jamaica
Nicholas Petit-Frere Tennessee Titans Haiti
Eddy Pinero Carolina Panthers Cuba
Max Pircher Los Angeles Rams Italy
Sandro Platzgummer New York Giants Austria
Willington Previlon Tampa Bay Buccaneers Haiti
Mike Purcell Denver Broncos Samoa
Robert Quinn Chicago Bears Puerto Rico
Bernhard Raimann Indianapolis Colts Austria
Taylor Rapp Los Angeles Rams People’s Republic of China
Malcom Rodriguez Detroit Lions Mexico
Cesar Ruiz New Orleans Saints Dominican Republic
Cairo Santos Chicago Bears Brazil
Bernhard Seikovits Arizona Cardinals Austria
Penei Sewell Detroit Lions American Samoa
Dakoda Shepley Dallas Cowboys Canada
Arryn Siposs Philadelphia Eagles Australia
JuJu Smith Schuster Kansas City Chiefs Samoa
Equanimeous St. Brown Chicago Bears Germany
Amon-Ra St. Brown Detroit Lions Germany
Benjamin St-Juste Washington Commanders Canada
Michael Strachan Indianapolis Colts Bahamas
Tua Tagovailoa Miami Dolphins Samoa
Derrick Tangelo Atlanta Falcons Democratic Republic of Congo
Jahlani Tavai New England Patriots Samoa
Khyiris Tonga Atlanta Falcons Tonga
Marlon Tuipulotu Philadelphia Eagles Tonga
Kemoko Turay San Francisco 49ers Ivory Coast
Josh Uche New England Patriots Nigeria
Olisaemeka Udoh Minnesota Vikings Nigeria
Eyioma Uwazurike Denver Broncos Nigeria
Halapoulivaati Vaitai Detroit Lions Tonga
Tanner Vallejo Arizona Cardinals Ecuador
Vita Vea Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tonga
Alijah Vera-Tucker New York Jets Mexico
Luiji Vilain Minnesota Vikings Canada
Corliss Waiyman Denver Broncos Suriname
Prince Oghenetega Wanogho Kansas City Chiefs Nigeria
Fred Warner San Francisco 49ers Mexico
Luke Wattenberg Denver Broncos South Korea
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine Tennessee Titans Nigeria
Rachad Wildgoose Washington Commanders Bahamas
Elijah Wilkinson Atlanta Falcons Puerto Rico
Avery Williams Atlanta Falcons Mexico
K’Wuan Williams Denver Broncos Jamaica
Joshua Williams Kansas City Chiefs St.Kitts and Nevis
Marco Wilson Arizona Cardinals Puerto Rico
Mitch Wishnowsky San Francisco 49ers Australia
Kenny Yeboah New York Jets Liberia
Isaac Yiadom Houston Texans Ghana
Olamide Zaccheus Atlanta Falcons Nigeria

NFL coaches wearing flag pins

Coach Team Flag
Cam Achord New England Patriots France
Bill Belichick New England Patriots Croatia
Brian Belichick New England Patriots Croatia
Stephen Belichick New England Patriots Croatia
Juan Castillo Washington Commanders Mexico
Sean Desai Seattle Seahawks India
Aden Durde Dallas Cowboys United Kingdom
Cristian Garcia Washington Commanders Cuba
Joe Houston New England Patriots Cuba
Joe Judge New England Patriots Ireland
Joe Kim New England Patriots South Korea
Sanjay Lal Seattle Seahawks India
Paraag Marathe San Francisco 49ers India
Matt Patricia New England Patriots Italy
Mike Pellegrino New England Patriots Italy
Ron Rivera Washington Commanders Puerto Rico
Vincent Rivera Washington Commanders South Korea
Dean Spanos Los Angeles Chargers Greece
Vinnie Sunseri New England Patriots Italy
David Szott New York Jets Poland
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