Worker Crawls Across 100-Yard U.S. Flag at MetLife Before Jets-Steelers Opener
An unidentified stadium worker was seen crawling to the edge of a massive American flag after it was unfurled for the national anthem at the New York Jets' 2025 season opener
A stadium worker was filmed crawling across a 100-yard U.S. flag covering MetLife Stadium before the national anthem at the New York Jets’ 2025 season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
The flag was unfurled across the playing surface as players from both teams stood on the perimeter. Video and images shared by fans showed an unidentified member of the event staff on top of the flag after it had been fully rolled out; the worker crawled toward the nearest edge and climbed off in front of thousands of spectators.
The incident was first flagged by fans on social media and drew immediate attention in the stands and online. "Yikes someone got caught on the flag at MetLife," one fan wrote after uploading a clip of the episode. Video shows a handful of players, including several Steelers, nearby as the worker exited the field.
The flag is part of the pregame ceremony the league typically uses for the national anthem and was stretched across the full width of the field. Officials at MetLife Stadium and the New York Jets did not immediately respond to requests for comment. There were no reports of injury to the worker.
Sunday’s game marked the Jets’ first regular-season contest of the 2025 NFL season and the debut of Aaron Glenn as the team’s head coach. The ceremony and its large field-sized flag are part of routine pregame operations at many National Football League venues, which usually involve a coordinated crew responsible for laying out and removing field coverings before and after ceremonies.
Fans and social media users reacted quickly to the footage, posting clips that circulated on platforms within minutes of the flag being laid out. The video prompted questions about stadium protocol and the coordination of field crews during high-profile pregame events, though stadium officials had not provided an official account of what led to the worker ending up on the flag.
The Jets and the league generally require event staff to follow strict procedures when a field covering is in place, and most teams use rehearsed choreography to minimize disruptions during anthem ceremonies. Sunday’s incident, while unusual, did not appear to affect the scheduled start of the game.
The game proceeded as planned. The Jets will likely address the episode in postgame comments or in subsequent statements if team or stadium officials decide to review the actions of the event staff involved. Until then, the footage shared by fans remains the primary record of the moment.