Pink will no longer be the dominant color in NFL stadiums in October.
For eight seasons, the league has partnered with the American Cancer Society to raise awareness of breast cancer while promoting screenings and education. Part of the fundraising involved in that initiative has included auctioning off pink items worn by players, coaches and officials during games — towels, wristbands, shoes and the like.
But starting in 2017, The MMQB reported Tuesday, the NFL will drop its exclusive focus on breast cancer and allow teams to spotlight other forms of detectable, screenable cancer over three weeks in October.
The switch stemmed in part from an interaction between commissioner Roger Goodell and defensive lineman Devon Still, now with the Texans. Still's daughter Leah was diagnosed with neuroblastoma two years ago, and her fight has drawn extensive media attention. Goodell offered Still his support early in the process, and the player responded by suggesting that the league open up the annual October breast cancer campaign to combating other forms of the illness.
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Team representatives were informed last week that the change would be made for the 2017 season. According to the report, teams will even be able to highlight more than one type of cancer per season.
“It lets me know that he’s listening,” Still told The MMQB. “For a long time, we have been supporting causes close to the heads of the NFL. To find out they are really following through with this, it makes me feel like the players are gaining more of a voice.”
