SportsNFLBaltimore Ravens

Ravens' National Anthem Singer Resigns After Fans 'Attack' Player Protesters

The combat veteran says fans don't want to understand the NFL protests.
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By 

General Assignment Reporter, HuffPost

After a carefully worded message on Tuesday announcing his resignation as the national anthem singer at Baltimore Ravens home games, combat veteran Joey Odoms made it crystal clear on Wednesday why he’s quitting.

“Fans who attack players for protesting (a right in which I fought to defend) but are simply not interested in understanding why, is the reason I am resigning,” he said on Instagram.

Odoms, a member of the Maryland National Guard who served tours of duty in Afghanistan, won a competition in 2014 to get the job.

On Tuesday, Odoms posted a less-specific missive to explain his quitting. “The tone/actions of a large number of NFL fans in the midst of our country’s cultural crisis, have convinced me that I do not belong there,” he wrote on Instagram.

“This is not an emotional reaction to recent events, rather an ethical decision that part of me regrets but my core knows is the right choice,” Odoms added.

Fan backlash erupted as players kneeling in protest or simply not appearing during “The Star-Spangled Banner” mushroomed across the NFL following President Donald Trump’s repeated criticism of them.

Negative reactions have included fans booing in some stadiums, the burning of team apparel, the burning of season tickets, and two New Orleans Saints players being disinvited as grand marshals for a Mardi Gras parade.

“We greatly appreciate the work Joey did for us and we thank him,” Ravens spokesman Kevin Byrne told the Baltimore Sun.

The Ravens played the Jacksonville Jaguars in London on Sunday, losing 44-7. Players protested there as well.

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Before You Go

Super Bowl National Anthems Through The Years
1967(01 of32)
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Jazz trumpeter Al Hirt plays the national anthem prior to the start of Super Bowl I on January 15, 1967 between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Green Bay Packers at the Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. (credit:Diamond Images via Getty Images)
1968(02 of32)
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The National Anthem is played before the start of Super Bowl II between the Green Bay Packer and Oakland Raiders January 14, 1968 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. The Packers won the game 33-14. (credit:Focus On Sport via Getty Images)
1982(03 of32)
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Diana Ross sings the National Anthem at Super Bowl XVI in Detroit's Silverdome Stadium in 1982. (credit:Bettmann via Getty Images)
1984(04 of32)
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Barry Manilow sings the National Anthem prior to Super Bowl XVIII between the Washington Redskins and Los Angeles Raiders on January 22, 1984 at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Raiders won the Super Bowl 38 - 9. (credit:Focus On Sport via Getty Images)
1987(05 of32)
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Neil Diamond sings the National Anthem prior to Super Bowl XXI between the Denver Broncos and New York Giants on January 26, 1987 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The Giants won the Super Bowl 39 -20. (credit:Focus On Sport via Getty Images)
1988(06 of32)
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Herb Alpert played the National Anthem prior to the Washington Redskins taking on the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXII at the Jack Murphy Stadium on January 31, 1988 in San Diego, California. The Redskins defeated the Broncos 42-10. (credit:Gin Ellis via Getty Images)
1991(07 of32)
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Whitney Houston sings the National Anthem during the pregame show at Super Bowl XXV while tens of thousands of football fans wave tiny American flags in an incredible outburst of patriotism during the Persian Gulf War on Jan. 27, 1991. (credit:Michael Zagaris via Getty Images)
1992(08 of32)
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Harry Connick Jr sings the National Anthem prior to Super Bowl XXVI between the Washington Redskins and Buffalo Bills at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota January 26, 1992. The Redskins won the Super Bowl 37-24. (credit:Focus On Sport via Getty Images)
1993(09 of32)
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Country music star Garth Brooks sings the National Anthem with American sign language translation performed by actress Marlee Matlin prior to Super Bowl XXVII between the Dallas Cowboys and the Buffalo Bills at the Rose Bowl on January 31, 1993 in Pasadena, California. The Cowboys defeated the Bills 52-17. (credit:George Rose via Getty Images)
1994(10 of32)
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Singer Natalie Cole performs the National Anthem to kick off the 1994 Atlanta, Georgia, Superbowl XXVII football game at the Georgia Dome. (credit:George Rose via Getty Images)
1995(11 of32)
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Kathie Lee Gifford sings the National Anthem priot to the start of Super Bowl XXIX at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida on Jan. 29, 1995. (credit:Mike Powell via Getty Images)
1996(12 of32)
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Singer Vanessa Williams sings the national anthem prior to the Dallas Cowboys game versus the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XXX at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona on Jan. 28, 1996. The Cowboys defeated the Steelers 27-17. (credit:Mike Powell via Getty Images)
1997(13 of32)
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Singer Luther Vandross sings the US National Anthem at the Louisiana Superdome Jan. 27, 1997 before the start of Super Bowl XXXI in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Green Bay Packers played the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. (credit:DON EMMERT via Getty Images)
1998(14 of32)
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US folk singer Jewel performs the US national anthem on Jan. 25, 1998 before Super Bowl XXXII at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The defending champion Green Bay Packers played the Denver Broncos. (credit:Getty Images)
1999(15 of32)
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Entertainer Cher sings the national anthem at Super Bowl XXXIII which was held at Pro Player Stadium on January 31, 1999 in Miami, Florida. (credit:Al Pereira via Getty Images)
2000(16 of32)
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US singer Faith Hill sings the US National Anthem before the start of Super Bowl XXXIV at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta Jan. 3, 2000. The St. Louis Rams and Tennessee Titans competed for the NFL 1999 championship. (credit:JEFF HAYNES via Getty Images)
2001(17 of32)
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The Backstreet Boys peform the National Anthem before the Super Bowl XXXV Game between the New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on Jan. 28, 2001. (credit:Andy Lyons via Getty Images)
2002(18 of32)
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Singer Mariah Carey performs 'The National Anthem' on Feb. 3, 2002 at the Louisiana Superdome before Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans, Louisiana. The St. Louis Rams and the New England Patriots played for the NFL championship. (credit:JEFF HAYNES via Getty Images)
2003(19 of32)
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The Dixie Chicks sing the national anthem during Super Bowl XXXVII in San Diego, California on Jan. 26, 2003. (credit:KMazur via Getty Images)
2004(20 of32)
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Singer Beyonce performs the US national anthem at Super Bowl XXXVIII at Reliant Stadium on Feb.1, 2004 in Houston, Texas. (credit:JEFF HAYNES via Getty Images)
2005(21 of32)
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Former US presidents George H.W. Bush (R) and Bill Clinton listen to the national anthem sung by the combined choirs of the U.S. Military Academy the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets before the start of Super Bowl XXXIX between the Philadelphia Eagles and the New England Patriots on Feb. 6, 2005 at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. (credit:ROBERTO SCHMIDT via Getty Images)
2006(22 of32)
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Aretha Franklin and Aaron Neville sing the American National Anthem prior to Super Bowl XL on Feb. 5, 2006 in Detroit, Michigan. The Pittsburgh Steelers faced the Seattle Seahawks. (credit:JEFF HAYNES via Getty Images)
2007(23 of32)
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Billy Joel after performing the National Anthem at Super Bowl XLI at Dolphins Stadium in Miami, Florida on Feb. 4, 2007. (credit:Jeff Kravitz via Getty Images)
2008(24 of32)
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Singer Jordin Sparks performs the National Anthem during the Super Bowl XLII pre-game show on February 3, 2008 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (credit:Michael Buckner via Getty Images)
2009(25 of32)
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Singer Jennifer Hudson performs the national anthem during the pre-game show prior to the start of Super Bowl XLIII between the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (credit:Jeff Kravitz via Getty Images)
2010(26 of32)
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Singer Carrie Underwood sings The United States National Anthem onstage during the Super Bowl XLIV Pregame Show at the Sun Life Stadium on February 7, 2010 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (credit:Alexander Tamargo via Getty Images)
2011(27 of32)
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Singer Christina Aguilera sings the national anthem during Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (credit:Ronald Martinez via Getty Images)
2012(28 of32)
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Kelly Clarkson performs the National Anthem during the Bridgestone Super Bowl XLVI Pregame Show at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 5, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (credit:Al Pereira via Getty Images)
2013(29 of32)
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Musician Alicia Keys performs the National Anthem prior to the start of Super Bowl XLVII between the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (credit:Al Bello via Getty Images)
2014(30 of32)
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Opera singer Renee Fleming performs the National Anthem during the Pepsi Super Bowl XLVIII Pregame Show at MetLife Stadium on February 2, 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (credit:Kevin Mazur via Getty Images)
2015(31 of32)
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Idina Menzel sings the National Anthem at the Super Bowl. The New England Patriots plays against the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015. (credit:Boston Globe via Getty Images)
2016(32 of32)
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Lady Gaga sings the National Anthem at Super Bowl 50 at Levi's Stadium on February 7, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (credit:Jeff Kravitz via Getty Images)
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