S.F. 49ers Tell Youth 'It Gets Better'

Donte Whitner

The San Francisco 49ers have become the first NFL team to make an It Gets Better video featuring multiple players.

Safety Donte Whitner, linebacker Ahmad Brooks, and defensive tackles Ricky Jean Francois and Isaac Sopoaga appear in the video, voicing support and encouragement for LGBT young people.

“The San Francisco 49ers are proud to join ItGetsBetter.org, to let all LGBT teens know that it gets better,” Whitner says. “On behalf of the entire 49ers organization, we are on your side, and we promise it gets better.”

The video (below) comes after a campaign by fan Sean Chapin, whose Change.org petition attracted more than 16,000 signatures urging the team to participate in the It Gets Better Project. He also successfully petitioned the San Francisco Giants last year to become the first Major League Baseball team to make an It Gets Better video.

“This is a proud day for San Francisco, as two of our professional teams have taken a bold stand against bullying,” Chapin said in a press release. “Let’s hope this is only the beginning, and that more NFL and professional sports teams around the country take this opportunity to speak up on behalf of LGBT fans and kids.”

Last year Mike Williams of the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks joined other Seattle pro athletes in an It Gets Better video.