The New York Giants and MetLife Stadium hosted a pregame ceremony on September 14, 2025, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, featuring a moment of silence, a photo montage of victims, and a special performance of the national anthem by the Joint NYPD-FDNY Quintet.
The tribute occurred ahead of the Giants' Week 1 NFL season opener against the Dallas Cowboys, with New York City first responders playing a central role in the remembrance. FDNY Ladder 343 and a World Trade Center steel beam were displayed outside the stadium, while vertical light columns resembling the Tribute in Light illuminated the night sky. A 100-yard American flag was unfurled on the field, and players from both teams wore commemorative hats and T-shirts bearing the phrase “Never Forget.”
Honorary captains for the coin toss included members of the Palumbo family, whose FDNY father died in the 9/11 attacks. A photo montage of lives lost was shown on stadium video boards during the ceremony, followed by a stadium-wide moment of silence. The Joint NYPD-FDNY Quintet delivered an a cappella rendition of the national anthem, which drew widespread praise from fans on social media.
Giants coach John Harbaugh reflected on the significance of the tribute, stating, “It’s a story about heroes who were willing to run toward danger while others were trying to escape it.” The event also featured the “Go Big Blue” chant, led by Giants legends and uniformed first responders.
The ceremony underscored the NFL’s annual tradition of honoring 9/11 victims during Week 1, with similar tributes observed in other cities, including a wild guitar solo during the national anthem in Seattle. The Giants’ tribute was part of a broader week of remembrance across the United States, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the attacks in New York.