The arrival of COVID-19 in early 2020 led to stay-at-home orders for much of the United States. While these measures were intended to help keep the public safe and prevent widespread infection, the school closures, changes in employment status, and subsequent increase in time spent at home has also led to a rise in domestic violence cases.

“Chad Wheeler, former offensive tackle for the Seattle Seahawks, beats his girlfriend to the point that he’s surprised to see her alive.” Unfortunately, these days, this type of headline isn’t shocking. It is almost commonplace within the professional football community, but the NFL doesn’t seem to care. One in every three women and one in every four men will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime. Even with the knowledge of these statistics, they have made the poor decision to skim over this topic time and time again rather than use their platform for good. If this type of violence is happening amongst those in the very public eye, such as professional athletes and celebrities, imagine what happens behind closed doors in our communities.