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Lone Steelers player to stand for anthem now has NFL's best-selling jersey

By WSBTV.com

Offensive tackle Alejandro Villanueva #78 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on during an NFL football game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 17, 2017 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA.

By WSBTV.com

UPDATE Sept. 26: 

According to a tweet from ESPN reporter Adam Schefter, Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Alejandro Villanueva is donating all money from sales of his jersey to military orgnaizations.

“Steelers’ Alejandro Villanueva is donating all proceeds on his jersey/apparel sales to USO and other military non-profits, as he always has,” Schefter tweeted Tuesday.

Original story Sept. 25:

Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Alejandro Villanueva made headlines Sunday afternoon when he was the only member of the Pittsburgh Steelers to stand on the field for the national anthem.

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Since that moment, the lineman now has the best-selling jersey in the NFL.

Villanueva, a former Army Ranger who earned a Bronze Star and served three tours in Afghanistan, was the only Steelers player who came outside the tunnel during the national anthem Sunday afternoon.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin previously said the team collectively decided not to be on the sideline during the song.

Pictures and video of the 29-year-old West Point graduate standing alone, with his hand on his heart, quickly spread across social media.

According to ESPN, a spokesman for Fanatics confirmed that over the past 24 hours, Villanueva's gear has been ordered more than that of any other NFL player.

Officials with Fanatics, which runs the NFL’s official online store, said the gear includes jerseys and name T-shirts.

The offensive lineman beat out four quarterbacks : Tom Brady, Carson Wentz, Dak Prescott and Aaron Rodgers -- for the top spot.

Villanueva jerseys are available in men’s and women’s sizes.

ESPN's Darren Rovell said this is the first time he can remember seeing an offensive lineman's jersey available in women's sizes.

“I was looking for 100 percent participation. We were (going to) be respectful of our football team,” Tomlin said after the game.

Nearly 200 NFL players didn't stand for the national anthem during Week 3. Three teams -- the Steelers, Tennessee Titans and Seattle Seahawks -- didn't come to the sideline until after the playing of the anthem had finished.

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