Bailey’s speech was at least the fourth time in recent years that a Hall of Fame inductee or his family used the weekend to highlight a social justice or player health concern. Some of the messages have been subtle; Bailey’s words were the most direct appeal.

The N.F.L. in February settled the collusion case brought by Colin Kaepernick, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback, partly to try to put an end to the uncomfortable spectacle of players using the league’s vast platform to shine a light on their concerns about police brutality and social justice.

It is unclear how many players this season will continue kneeling during the playing of the national anthem, though Eric Reid, the Carolina Panthers safety who also accused the N.F.L. owners of colluding to keep him off the field, said last week that he plans to continue protesting this season. But players continue to speak out, including at one of the league’s biggest events, the induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

At last year’s so-called Gold Jacket ceremony, Randy Moss, the former wide receiver who was a member of the class of inductees, wore a necktie with the names of 12 black men and women killed by the police. Moss told ESPN that he subsequently received hundreds of pieces of hate mail.

The stewards of the Pro Football Hall of Fame try hard to ensure the festivities remain a celebration of football and the N.F.L. In 2015, Sydney Seau, the daughter of Junior Seau, was prevented from introducing her late father at the induction ceremony.