The New York Giants held an emotional pregame ceremony to honor the victims of the 9/11 attacks before their Week 1 season opener against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium. The ceremony, which took place two days after the 25th anniversary of the attacks, culminated in a performance of the U.S. national anthem by a joint NYPD-FDNY quintet.
The a cappella rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" was met with widespread praise from fans on social media, with many describing it as "incredible" and "gorgeous," and reporting "goosebumps" and "chills."
During the stadium-wide remembrance, a moment of silence was observed for the victims. A photo montage of lives lost on 9/11 was displayed on the videoboards, and two columns of light were projected into the night sky, replicating the image of the Twin Towers.
Fans arriving at the stadium were greeted by Ladder 343, a ceremonial FDNY firetruck named in honor of the 343 FDNY members who died on September 11, 2001. The Tunnel to Towers Foundation also displayed a steel beam from the World Trade Center as part of their Steel Across America tour.
Players and coaches from both the Giants and the Cowboys wore commemorative NYPD, FDNY, and PAPD pregame apparel, along with "Never Forget" t-shirts. The Giants players entered the field through a gauntlet formed by New York City first responders. Legends from the Giants' 2001 team, including Jessie Armstead, Tiki Barber, Kerry Collins, and Jason Sehorn, joined uniformed first responders for a pre-kickoff chant.