This iconic photo is being called the first in history

THIS photo captured during the US national anthem at an NFL game is making a serious splash around the world.

The first in history.

NFL superstar Michael Bennett said last week that it would take a white player to kneel for the national anthem “to really get things changed.”

Seth DeValve is testing that belief.

The second-year Browns tight end knelt for “The Star-Spangled Banner” during Monday’s game in Cleveland against the Giants, part of a circle of a dozen players who bowed their heads in silent protest. They were flanked by several more teammates who stood and put their hands on the kneelers’ shoulders.

DeValve is the first white player to join the movement started by Colin Kaepernick, who’s currently not in the league. The Eagles’ Chris Long stood with his hand on a teammate’s kneeling shoulder last week.

For DeValve, a fourth-round pick last year out of Princeton, protesting treatment of minorities is personal: He’s married to an African-American woman, and he expressed hope that his future children would grow up in a better world.

Seth DeValve has turned heads with his pregame protest.

“It saddens me that in 2017 we have to do something like that,” said the 24-year-old DeValve, from Manchester, Conn., who said he loves this country and supports its troops. “… The United States is the greatest country in the world. It is because it provides opportunities to its citizens that no other country does. The issue is that it doesn’t provide equal opportunity to everybody.

“I wanted to support my African-American teammates today who wanted to take a knee.

We wanted to draw attention to the fact that there’s things in this country that still need to change. I myself will be raising children that don’t look like me. I want to do my part as well — do everything I can to raise them in a better environment than we have right now. I wanted to take the opportunity with my teammates during the anthem to pray for our country and also to draw attention to the fact that we have work to do. That’s why I do what I did.”

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#Browns TE Seth DeValve explains why he participated in the prayer during the anthem pic.twitter.com/T8PhmsDKcL

— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) August 22, 2017

Yes, Seth Devalve. Yes.

— Kayla Johnson (@klajohnson) August 22, 2017

Seth DeValve gets it.

— Andrea Hangst (@FBALL_Andrea) August 22, 2017

I should note: others have supported, but DeValve first to kneel during the anthem. Short distance to the ground, but huge symbolically. https://t.co/ZWXlR2a7Kq

— ChristianChristensen (@ChrChristensen) August 22, 2017

DeValve, who played in 12 games last season and caught 10 passes and two touchdowns, is married to Erica Harris, whom he met at Princeton — he proposed last year on the university’s football field.

Joining DeValve in protest were linebackers Jamie Collins and Christian Kirksey, running backs Isaiah Crowell, Duke Johnson, Terrance Magee and Brandon Wilds, safety Jabrill Peppers, wide receivers Kenny Britt and Ricardo Louis and defensive back Calvin Pryor, a former Jet.

Rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer, offensive tackle Shon Coleman, punter Britton Colquitt, defensive back Jason McCourty and offensive lineman Marcus Martin offered support by putting their hands on their shoulders.

Me and my Bride2Be at #theINCREASE conference in Orlando, Florida pic.twitter.com/ZEtMBCuKn2

— Seth DeValve (@SethDevalve) March 5, 2017

Originally published as This iconic photo is being called the first in history