Flyovers, Special Unis, And Drones: How Football Honors 25th Anniversary Of 9/11

This article was written by Mark J. Burns and published on Sport & State, a new media company founded by Clay Travis that is built around sports, culture, original voices, and live conversation.

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Football is synonymous with everyday American life.

This weekend, the NFL and its 32 franchises, in addition to dozens of college football programs across the country, plan to use the sports’ biggest stage to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

American flag displays, moments of silence, in-stadium recognitions of first responders, 9/11 tribute branding, and special musical performances are among the many ways the football community is honoring the lives lost in 2001.

Never Forget

During Week 1, the NFL said all games “will feature tributes designed to honor the lives lost, recognize survivors, first responders and military families, and connect fans to the lasting message of remembrance and service that emerged after September 11.”

We will Never Forget.

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— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) September 10, 2026

The phrase “Never Forget” will be stenciled into end zones, and game officials will also use a 9/11 branded coin for the opening coin toss — the coins will later be auctioned off to benefit the NFL’s 9/11 charity partners. Additionally, for all of Sunday’s 1 p.m. ET kickoffs, there will be live broadcast coverage of the national anthems.

For specific teams, the Colts have organized multiple commemorative efforts. During the pregame ceremonies, the organization will recognize members of the Indiana Task Force 1 (IN-TF1), which conducted search and rescue operations at Ground Zero.

Kicking off the season with a Seattle rock legend. @MikeMcCreadyPJ

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— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) September 10, 2026

Country music artist Craig Morgan, who is also a U.S. Army veteran and longtime supporter of first responders, will perform the national anthem at Lucas Oil Stadium. Additionally, a portion of the team’s gameday 50/50 raffle will also be directed toward the Indiana 9/11 Memorial Fund.

“We hope fans leave the game with gratitude in their hearts for the sacrifice made by so many 25 years ago, as well as for the continuing service of those who protect and serve us every day,” said Steve Campbell, Colts Vice President of Communications & External Affairs, to Sport & State.

The Panthers’ organization said they are participating in Charlotte’s 9/11 Flags and Lights of Remembrance event, which includes honoring the 2,977 lives lost 25 years ago.

Other franchises like the Steelers and Titans are devoting time and resources to remembering 9/11, too. The Titans invited 200 local first responders to Sunday’s game with the Jets, while the organization will also host a meal packing session on Friday at Nissan Stadium as part of the country’s broader 9/11 Day of Service initiative to pack 20 million meals for families across the U.S.

For the Steelers, the first NASA NFL flyover will occur pregame, according to a team spokesperson. Family members of victims from the United Airlines Flight 93 crash in Shanksville, Penn. will be on site, too.

During halftime, the United States Air Force Heritage of America Brass Band will perform service songs from each branch of the military, in addition to God Bless the USA, followed by a third quarter recognition of Master Sergeant Tim Motte, Pennsylvania US Army and Air National Guard. He conducted multiple combat tours and previously served as a state trooper where he was a first responder on the scene for the Flight 93 crash.

Red, White, And Blue

Across college football, stadiums from coast to coast will turn into places of remembrance this weekend with different displays of patriotism.

Fans at Kyle Field, home of Texas A&M and the 12th man, will see the nation’s colors represented across the entire stadium this weekend.

The stage is set in red, white and blue. ???????? pic.twitter.com/ZHjm8HCdIp

— Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) September 9, 2026

On Friday, Kansas hosts Missouri under the lights but not before four T-38 Talon jets conduct a pregame flyover at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Like the Jayhawks, additional football programs such as Indiana, Georgia, SMU, and West Virginia will provide moments of silence during their respective national anthems as well as offer other in-stadium visual displays paying tribute to the 9/11 anniversary.

Louisville’s matchup against Villanova on Friday is the Cardinals’ Salute to Service game, which will honor military members from nearby Ft. Knox and recognize approximately a dozen football alumni who are in the military or first responders. During halftime, there will also be a re-enlistment ceremony held on the field at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium for current military members.

Meanwhile, Rutgers will don 9/11 tribute helmets and jerseys Friday night against Boston College as the Big Ten program honors the 37 alumni killed in the terrorists attacks, while Georgia hosts its 3rd memorial stair climb at Stanford Stadium for ROTC students and local first responders — North Carolina is organizing a similar tribute on Friday.

As we take the field on the 25th anniversary of 9/11, we honor all of those whose lives were lost on that tragic day, including our 37 @RutgersU alumni.

We remember. We honor. We will never forget. pic.twitter.com/XtzQ7fjdh6

— Rutgers Football ???? (@RFootball) September 7, 2026

Against Rutgers, Boston College, in its annual Red Bandanna game, will honor 9/11 hero and alumnus Welles Crowther, who is known as the “The Man in the Red Bandanna” for the type of handkerchief he wore years ago. Crowther guided nearly 20 survivors to safety down a stairwell in the South Tower of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11. The Eagles will distribute red bandannas to the first 10,000 fans in attendance.

.@POTUS tells the story of the “Man in the Red Bandana,” a 24-year-old rookie equities trader in the South Tower who heroically gave his own life to save 18 others on September 11, 2001. pic.twitter.com/EiYCfUlOsJ

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 8, 2026

Members of the Crowther family as well as relatives of Boston College alumni who died on 9/11 will also be honored. A drone show at Alumni Stadium is scheduled to dot the nighttime sky during halftime, too.

Nebraska, which hosts Bowling Green on Saturday night, plans to incorporate military personnel and first responders into the team’s pregame entrance, according to Keith Mann, Senior Associate A.D. of Communications. 

The senior administrator said the Cornhuskers will also illuminate the sky overhead with a postgame drone show of their own via a partnership with America 250 and an unnamed donor in Omaha, Neb. The organization put on a similar drone show this summer at the Men’s College World Series, Mann said.

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