With the NFL season beginning this week, millions of fans will be watching America’s most popular sport.  But beyond  the play on the field, the NFL is still grappling with big problems off the field.  Whether it be fair compensation for former players suffering from brain injuries, racial equity in the hiring of coaches, or how the NFL has handled players accused of sexual and domestic violence, the NFL’s past and recent handling of social and political issues have cast a shadow over the game.

We speak with Dave Zirin, Sports Editor for The Nation, author of The Kaepernick Effect: Taking a Knee, Changing the World, and co-producer, co-writer and star of the new documentary, the-shield-p800.aspx">Behind the Shield: The Power and Politics of the NFL, about the upcoming season, football’s place in American society, and the continued issues that the league faces.