NFL to salute 15th anniversary of 9/11

The NFL will commemorate the 15th anniversary of September 11, 2001, during Sunday's games, including fans being able to watch stadium video messages from President Barack Obama and former President George W. Bush.

The NFL will feature special 9/11 tributes to honor those who lost their lives and share an inspirational message of hope, unity and community service and engagement, the league announced Friday.

"Prior to each game this Sunday, fans across the country will see video messages from President Barack Obama and President George W. Bush. Each club will have special guests on field for pregame activities and the playing of the National Anthem," the NFL said in a press release. "Among the special guests that clubs are hosting are first responders, community volunteers, hometown heroes and members of the military."

In Philadelphia for the 1 p.m. ET Cleveland Browns versus Eagles game, Vice President Joe Biden will join 120 first responders in holding the American flag during the anthem.

President Bush will be in Dallas for the New York Giants versus Cowboys 4:25 p.m. ET game and will toss the coin accompanied on the field by wife Laura Bush and two New York Police Department officers who responded to the attacks at Ground Zero 15 years ago.

All team coaching staffs will be supplied with 9/11 lapel pins and a special 9/11 decal will be placed on players' helmets.

The NFL will synch the pregame salutes during the Sunday afternoon CBS and FOX telecasts, followed by the Sunday night game on NBC. The pregame events that will be televised nationally also will be shown on the videoboards in each of the stadiums hosting games that day.

Prior to the kickoffs, all games will feature the special presidential video message after the coin toss and prior to the playing of the National Anthem.

NFL Films taped the presidential messages last month with President Obama at the White House and President Bush at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas.

Also under observation on Sunday will be the actions of players. San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick has received national attention for refusing to stand for the national anthem and the Seattle Seahawks are hinting that they might send a message as a team.

Denver Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall refused to stand for the anthem prior to Thursday's NFL season-opening contest against the Carolina Panthers.