Updates

The NFL and American Cancer Society are working together for the 12th consecutive season to support the fight against cancer through Crucial Catch: Intercept Cancer. The initiative addresses early detection, getting screened, and risk reduction efforts across multiple types of cancers and kicks off in stadiums through Week 6 of the 2020 season. This year, Crucial Catch is part of the league's It Takes All of Us brand campaign, which highlights the importance of everyone joining together to make a difference in the lives of others.

Crucial Catch helps people catch cancer early, when it may be easier to treat. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this is more challenging than ever before with the devastating impact on screening. Since March 2020, routine cancer screenings have dropped, resulting in a screening rate drop between 86% and 94% for some cancers.

Through the initiative, the NFL and American Cancer Society are allocating resources dedicated to safely restarting cancer screenings in communities with the most need. For many forms of cancer (breast, cervical, colorectal and prostate), the survival rate after five years is above 90% when detected early before it spreads.

"For the last 12 years, the American Cancer Society and NFL have together been focused on providing resources and assistance to help ensure that more Americans have access to critical cancer screenings," said Gary Reedy, chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society. "Having the support and partnership of the NFL and its fans through Crucial Catch will undoubtedly lead to more lives saved."

Since 2012, the NFL has funded ACS’ Community Health Advocates Implementation Nationwide Grants for Empowerment and Equity (CHANGE) grants, which have contributed to 370,000 screenings in underserved communities and reached more than one million individuals with education, screening reminders and patient navigation. This, in turn, brings these life-saving messages and screening services to those who need them most.

All 32 NFL teams have the option of supporting early detection and risk-reduction efforts for one or multiple cancers in-stadium and in their communities. Players may also wear cleats, shoelaces and wristbands in any color representing the type of cancer awareness they support and/or have been impacted by during their team's Crucial Catch game. 

The NFL-issued Crucial Catch gameday apparel features a multi-colored logo representing all cancers. This year, New Era and Nike have created newly designed Crucial Catch gear, highlighting the NFL's commitment to drawing awareness to and supporting multiple cancer prevention efforts. Fans can purchase NFL-licensed Crucial Catch apparel on NFLShop.com.

Beginning in Week 4 and continuing through Week 6 of the 2020 season, NFL Crucial Catch games will feature:

• Game balls with the Crucial Catch logo
• Multi-colored equipment for players, including helmet decals, captains' patches, wristbands, sideline caps and quarterback towels
• Multi-colored ribbon pins for coaches and teams
• Caps and pins for game officials
• On-field multi-colored Crucial Catch stencils
• Multi-colored goal post wraps in end zones
• Field-wall banners in the color(s) of the cancer awareness movement(s) that each club supports

Game-worn Crucial Catch merchandise will be auctioned on NFL Auction. The NFL does not profit from the sale of Crucial Catch merchandise. Charitable contributions are donated to ACS to support its CHANGE grant program.