Behind the Shield: The Power and Politics of the NFL (2022)
Behind the Shield: The Power and Politics of the NFL
Celebrated author and Nation magazine sports editor Dave Zirin tackles the myth that the NFL was somehow free of politics before Colin Kaepernick and other Black NFL players took a knee.
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Dave Zirin
as Self
as Self
Marco Rubio
as Self (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
Rush Limbaugh
as Self (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
Colin Kaepernick
as Self - San Francisco 49ers Quarterback (archive footage)
as Self - San Francisco 49ers Quarterback (archive footage)
Donald Trump
as Self (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf
as Self (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
Bill Russell
as Self (archive footage)
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Muhammad Ali
as Self (archive footage)
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Tommie Smith
as Self (archive footage)
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John Carlos
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Jackie Robinson
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Billie Jean King
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John Facenda
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John Lennon
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Shakira
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Snoop Dogg
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Dr. Dre
as Self (archive footage)
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Mary J. Blige
as Self (archive footage)
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Alvin Roy
as Self - NFL Strength Coach (1968-77) (archive footage)
as Self - NFL Strength Coach (1968-77) (archive footage)
Tucker Carlson
as Self (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
Josh Hawley
as Self (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
Laura Ingraham
as Self (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
Boomer Esiason
as Self - Former NFL Quarterback (archive footage)
as Self - Former NFL Quarterback (archive footage)
Andrew Luck
as Self (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
Wesley Walker
as Self - Former NFL Wide Receiver (archive footage)
as Self - Former NFL Wide Receiver (archive footage)
Brad Leggett
as Self - Former NFL Center (archive footage)
as Self - Former NFL Center (archive footage)
Ray Lucas
as Self - Former NFL Quarterback (archive footage)
as Self - Former NFL Quarterback (archive footage)
Greg Gaines
as Self - Former NFL Linebacker (archive footage)
as Self - Former NFL Linebacker (archive footage)
Jeremy Newberry
as Self - Former NFL Lineman (archive footage)
as Self - Former NFL Lineman (archive footage)
Steven Silverman
as Self - Attorney for NFL Players (archive footage)
as Self - Attorney for NFL Players (archive footage)
Ann McKee
as Self (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
John Conyers
as Self (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
Roger Goodell
as Self - NFL Commissioner (archive footage)
as Self - NFL Commissioner (archive footage)
Gavin McInnes
as Self - Founder, Proud Boys (archive footage)
as Self - Founder, Proud Boys (archive footage)
Ray Rice
as Self (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
George Carlin
as Self (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
Vince Lombardi
as Self - Green Bay Packers Coach (archive footage)
as Self - Green Bay Packers Coach (archive footage)
Richard Nixon
as Self (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
Dwight L. Chapin
as Self - Deputy Assistant to Pres. Nixon (archive footage)
as Self - Deputy Assistant to Pres. Nixon (archive footage)
Joe Namath
as Self (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
Dave Meggyesy
as Self (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
George H. W. Bush
as Self (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
Whitney Houston
as Self (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
Kevin Mawae
as Self (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
Paul Tagliabue
as Self (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
George W. Bush
as Self (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
Bono
as Self (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
Pat Tillman
as Self (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
John McCain
as Self - Vietnam War Veteran (archive footage)
as Self - Vietnam War Veteran (archive footage)
Deacon Jones
as Self - Former NFL Defensive End (archive footage)
as Self - Former NFL Defensive End (archive footage)
Kenny Washington
as Self (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
John F. Kennedy
as Self (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
H.E.R.
as Self (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
Rodney Harrison
as Self - Former NFL Safety (archive footage)
as Self - Former NFL Safety (archive footage)
Tom Brady
as Self (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
Harry Reasoner
as Self - CBS News Correspondent (archive footage)
as Self - CBS News Correspondent (archive footage)
Warren Moon
as Self - NFL/CFL Hall of Fame Quarterback (archive footage)
as Self - NFL/CFL Hall of Fame Quarterback (archive footage)
Jemele Hill
as Self - Sports Journalist (archive footage)
as Self - Sports Journalist (archive footage)
Couy Griffin
as Self - Founder, Cowboys for Trump (archive footage)
as Self - Founder, Cowboys for Trump (archive footage)
Tim Kaine
as Self - Hillary Clinton VP Running Mate (archive footage)
as Self - Hillary Clinton VP Running Mate (archive footage)
Kobe Bryant
as Self - Former LA Lakers Guard (archive footage)
as Self - Former LA Lakers Guard (archive footage)
Tomi Lahren
as Self - Political Commentator (archive footage)
as Self - Political Commentator (archive footage)
Jay-Z
as Self (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
Chris Kluwe
as Self - Former NFL Player (archive footage)
as Self - Former NFL Player (archive footage)
Jerry Jones
as Self (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
William C. Rhoden
as Self - Sports Journalist (archive footage)
as Self - Sports Journalist (archive footage)
Alicia Keys
as Self (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
Al Sharpton
as Self (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
Howard Bryant
as Self - ESPN Senior Columnist (archive footage)
as Self - ESPN Senior Columnist (archive footage)
Jon Gruden
as Self (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
Randy Moss
as Self - Hall of Fame NFL Receiver (archive footage)
as Self - Hall of Fame NFL Receiver (archive footage)
LeBron James
as Self (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
Megan Rapinoe
as Self - National Womens Soccer League Player (archive footage)
as Self - National Womens Soccer League Player (archive footage)
Carl Nassib
as Self - Las Vegas Raiders (archive footage)
as Self - Las Vegas Raiders (archive footage)
John Amaechi
as Self - Former NBA Player, Author (archive footage)
as Self - Former NBA Player, Author (archive footage)
Chris Long
as Self - NFL Defensive End (archive footage)
as Self - NFL Defensive End (archive footage)
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Jeremy Earp
Producer
Producer
Jeremy Earp
Editor
Editor
Jeremy Earp
Director
Director
Dave Zirin
Writer
Writer
Loretta Alper
Producer
Producer
Dave Zirin
Co-Producer
Co-Producer
Jeremy Earp
Writer
Writer
Sut Jhally
Executive Producer
Executive Producer
Daniel Marracino
Director of Photography
Director of Photography
