NFL to celebrate Juneteenth as holiday

The NFL will recognize Juneteenth - a celebration of the end of slavery in America that usually takes place on June 19 - as a holiday by closing league offices, commissioner Roger Goodell informed teams in a memo Friday.

"It is a day to reflect on our past, but more importantly, consider how each one of us can continue to show up and band together to work toward a better future," wrote Goodell.

Juneteenth is recognized as a holiday in 47 out of 50 U.S. states but is not yet a national holiday, according to ESPN's Field Yates.

The announcement comes a day after the NFL pledged $250 million over a 10-year period to fight racial injustice.

Amid worldwide demonstrations against racial inequality and police brutality, the NFL has been far more supportive of causes like Black Lives Matter compared to when Colin Kaepernick sparked protests across the league by kneeling during the national anthem in 2016.

In a response to a call to action from a host of star black players such as Patrick Mahomes and Michael Thomas last week, Goodell admitted the league was "wrong for not listening" to player protests sooner.

"I personally protest with you and want to be part of the much-needed change in this country," Goodell added.

"Without black players, there would be no National Football League. And the protests around the country are emblematic of the centuries of silence, inequality, and oppression of black players, coaches, fans, and staff."