The Pittsburgh Steelers player who is being heralded for taking the field on Sunday for the national anthem despite the rest of the team boycotting has now revealed that it was all a big mistake, and he meant to be in the tunnel with his fellow players.

'Unfortunately I threw my teammates under the bus, unintentionally,' Alejandro Villanueva said on Monday.

'Every single time I see that picture of me standing by myself I feel embarrassed.'

Villanueva then explained that he had asked to stand in the front of the team with the captains of the squad at the last second so that they showed some respect for wounder veterans.

That plan backfired though when he did not stop to check that the captains were by his side as he walked to the opening of the tunnel, which is how the 6ft 9in lineman ended up in plain view on the field as the national anthem began to play.

His admission comes after thousands across the country declared him a hero for his actions, and began purchasing his jersey in record numbers to show support for what they thought was a calculated move.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger also said on Monday that he was meant to be by Villanueva's side at the time, but got held back by the melee in the tunnel after the tackle walked too far out.

'When we came out of the locker room into that tunnel, it was a very small area,' explained Roethlisberger.

'There was a flag or something coming off the field so there were a bunch of Bears fans, coming off the field holding that thing going in front of us, so it kind of held us up.'

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Speaking his truth: Alejandro Villanueva spoke out for the first time since taking the field alone on Sunday for the national anthem (above) while his teammates remained in the tunnel

Revelation: 'Every single time I see that picture of me standing by myself I feel embarrassed,' he said, adding: 'I threw my teammates under the bus, unintentionally' (Villanueva above on Monday)

Stand and deliver: The remainder of the team was either in the locker room or standing near the tunnel out of sight of the crowd, with some putting their hand on their heart

Villanueva, who was deployed to Afghanistan three times, said Monday that he has no issue with his teammates or anyone else in the league taking a knee during the national anthem.

'I will support all my teammates, and all my teammates and all my coaches have always supported me,' said Villanueva.

He later noted: 'We as a team tried to figure it out, obviously we butchered it, I’m not gonna pretend I have some kind of righteous voice.'

Villanueva, 29, pointed out as well that a number of players who have kneeled at games in the past made a point of thanking him for his service later in the game.

'I take no offense,' said Villanueva.

'I don’t think veterans at the end of the day take any offense. They actually signed up and fought so that somebody could take a knee and protest peacefully whatever it is that their hearts desire.'

Villanueva would not however speak about his personal beliefs or feelings towards President Donald Trump, who has derided those athletes who opt to take a knee or sit out for the playing of the 'Star Spangled Banner.'

'I don't have anything to say about the commander in chief and his decisions,' said Villanueva.

'Nothing to comment about what the president says.'

He also took some time to lash out at those who have attacked the team's coach, Mike Tomlin, for allowing the boycott.

'For anybody who thinks Coach Tomlin is not as patriotic as you can get in America, I’m offended by that,' said the Army veteran.

Video from the game on Sunday seems to confirm Villanueva's account, as he can be seen walking to the end of the tunnel wall, at which point he mouths the word 'nope' to someone on the field.

He then remains standing where he is, and begins to mouth the anthem with his hand over his heart, something that his follow players also did in the tunnel as it was not a part of the boycott.

Villanueva was also hidden from almost all of the crowd in his perch as well, with only those close to the tunnel entrance along with photographers and camera crews getting clear shots of him just off the sideline.

And after the anthem finished playing, Villanueva stood in place before running out when the rest of his team took the field, suggesting that he in no way meant to break free from the pack.

His teammates were not aware that this was an accident however, and a number of the players could be seen staring Villanueva down as they took the field.

The crowd immediately began booing the team, but given it was an away game it was unclear if that was specifically directed at them for the anthem boycott.

American hero: Villanueva, who was an Army Ranger (left) and served in Afghanistan, was the only player on the active squad that could be seen by the crowd

Befuddled Ben: The team's quarterback kept his head down as he took the field on Sunday (above)

Not fans: His teammates were not aware that this was an accident however, and a number of the players could be seen staring Villanueva down as they took the field (above)

Prior to Villanueva's appearance, the man who won two Super Bowls for the city of Pittsburgh said that he now regretted the fact that the team refused to stand on the field for the national anthem during Sunday's game.

'I was unable to sleep last night and want to share my thoughts and feelings on our team’s decision to remain in the tunnel for the National Anthem yesterday,' said Roethlisberger in a statement posted to his personal website.

'The idea was to be unified as a team when so much attention is paid to things dividing our country, but I wish we approached it differently. We did not want to appear divided on the sideline with some standing and some kneeling or sitting.'

He closed out by saying: 'I appreciate the unique diversity in my team and throughout the league and completely support the call for social change and the pursuit of true equality.

'Moving forward, I hope standing for the Anthem shows solidarity as a nation, that we stand united in respect for the people on the front lines protecting our freedom and keeping us safe. God bless those men and women.'

Villanueva reporteldly took a tongue lashing from head coach Mike Tomlin after he decided to take part in the pre-game national anthem ceremony on Sunday while the rest of his team remained out of sight in the locker room.

'Like I said, I was looking for 100 per cent participation, we were gonna be respectful of our football team,' Tomlin said following his team's 23-17 loss to the Chicago Bears.

Villanueva got caught at the edge of the end zone at Chicago's Soldier Field when the anthem began, and immediately out his hand over his heart.

His teammates, who were surprised by Villanueva's actions, remained either in the locker room or stood near the tunnel out of sight of the crowd.

Tomlin, offensive coordinator Todd Haley, offensive line coach Mike Munchak and running backs coach James Saxon all stood on the field for the national anthem.

He later said that many of the players 'felt like something needed to be done'.

He also revealed that the team held a meeting on Saturday and decided not to come out of the locker room for the anthem.

Tomlin noted the decision wasn't unanimous, but the intent was to have his team focus on the game and not President Donald Trump's comments about players who chose to protest during the anthem.

'We're not going to play politics,' Tomlin said. 'We're football players, we're football coaches. We're not participating in the anthem today - not to be disrespectful to the anthem, but to remove ourselves from the circumstance.'

He added: 'People shouldn't have to choose. If a guy wants to go about his normal business and participate in the anthem, he shouldn't be forced to choose sides.

'If a guy feels the need to do something, he shouldn't be separated from his teammate who chooses not to. But when we come out of locker rooms, we come out of locker rooms to play football games.'

Villanueva was also a key member of the team's protest planning ahead of Sunday's game.

Regrets, he's had a few: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (above) said that he was upset with the team's decision to skip the national anthem on Sunday

Misunderstood: Villanueva was believed to have intentionally stood at the tunnel opening despite Tomlin (pictured Sunday) demanding '100 percent participation'

Head coach Mike Tomlin, offensive coordinator Todd Haley, offensive line coach Mike Munchak and running backs coach James Saxon all stood on the field for the national anthem

Waving the flag: The Pittsburgh Steelers side of the field was nearly empty except for the coaches during the playing of the national anthem

The team decided that moving the protest off the field and out of sight of the crowd was a way to keep solidarity - those who wanted to stand could still stand inside the tunnel.

Linebacker James Harrison told Penn Live that everyone was involved in the pregame plan to remain out of sight of the crowd.

'We thought we were all in attention with the same agreement, obviously,' Harrison said. 'But I guess we weren't.'

Villanueva has previously said he supported players' frustration over racial injustice, but he didn't want to overlook the anthem because of his time in the military, where he earned a bronze star for valor during his tours overseas.

Several people took to social media to praise Villanueva for his decision to stand near the field during the pregame national anthem, including Lara Trump.

'Kudos to this incredible American. Thank you for your service & respecting our flag, sir. (sic) (Only #Steeler to come out for nat'l anthem),' the president's daughter-in-law tweeted.

Others called the Steelers a 'disgrace' for not taking part with Villanueva, despite their move to stay out of sight to remain out of the protest narrative.

Teammates said on Sunday that they respected Villanueva's decision.

Several people took to social media to praise Villanueva for his decision to stand near the field during the pregame national anthem, including Lara Trump

'Al is a unique circumstance, what he's been through, some of the things he's talked about before,' guard David DeCastro said. 'I've got a lot of respect for Al. I

' wish there was a different way to do this thing. We've got some people who look at the national anthem as patriotism, soldiers, all the stuff that it means, and obviously, people are upset, and I understand that.

'I just wish both sides understand that they want the right thing, but doing it through the national anthem, I wish there was a different way.'

Defensive end Cam Heyward said: 'I don't want to go into that, but we support our guy Al. He feels he had to do it. This guy served our country, and we thank him for it.'

In 2014, Villanueva, then a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, told CBS News' Don Dahler why he joined the Army.

'I just couldn't stand by the sidelines and watch other people do the work,' he said.

A year later in 2015, Villanueva married his wife Madelyn.

More than 200 NFL players who either knelt, sat, stretched or prayed during the Star Spangled Banner to protest Trump's remarks on Sunday.

Three teams didn't even take the field until the national anthem was over.

Meanwhile, the Chicago Bears stood together with linked arms as the national anthem played at Soldier Field on Sunday

Several players raised their fists during the protest, while others did so after scoring touchdowns during the game.

The protest campaign against racial inequality was started last year by former 49ers quarterback Kaepernick. Only six players participated last week.

But Trump's weekend attack on athletes sparked angry reactions from around the sports world and drew defiance from most of the NFL.

He suggested the NFL was going soft for cracking down on big hits. He uninvited the NBA champions Golden State Warriors to the White House after Stephen Curry and other players indicated they weren't sure they would accept the invitation.

Players, owners and commissioners past and present chastised the president for his divisive remarks.

After calling for NFL players who protest to be fired, Trump tweeted Sunday that the league should make it mandatory to stand for the national anthem and that fans should shun anyone who doesn't.