A solemn tribute to the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks was held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026, during the NFL's first-ever regular season game in Australia. The sold-out crowd stood for the commemoration as the Los Angeles Rams faced the San Francisco 49ers.
Pregame ceremonies honored the anniversary through the league's Salute to Service partnership with the Tragedy Assistance Program survivors, who were in attendance. The NFL Foundation also supported week-long activities for military families of those lost on 9/11, including a ceremony at Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance.
The U.S. Marines and sailors joined members of the Australian Defence Force in presenting the colors. The New York-based group Infinity Song performed the "Star-Spangled Banner," with the crowd joining in. Australian singer Cody Simpson performed "Advance Australia Fair."
Netflix, which is streaming the game, featured a segment detailing the NFL's reaction to the 9/11 attacks and the subsequent decision-making process.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell recalled the events of September 11, 2001, when he was the league director of club relations and international development. "I had gotten into the office, and we actually heard the plane go over," Goodell said. "People walking in saying, 'Did you hear that?' And I said, 'I heard it. What was it?'"
Following the attacks, the NFL postponed all of its Week 2 games in 2001, and play resumed on September 23, 2001. Former NFL quarterback Vinny Testaverde had expressed his view that games should not be played the weekend after the attacks, a sentiment shared by many players on his team at the time.
The league is continuing its 2026 Week 1 commemoration of the 9/11 terrorist attacks during its games on Sunday and Monday night.