It’s been almost four years since Colin Kaepernick was last seen playing in the NFL and it still amazes me how quickly time flies! This man was a revolutionary in the world of football and yet his actions both on and off the field have been met with nothing but trouble. He has gone from being a starting quarterback, to being blacklisted from the NFL, all within the span of a few seasons.
It all started in 2016 when Kaepernick first kneeled during the national anthem in protest of police brutality and injustice in the US. Initially, the reaction was mostly positive: many celebrities and public figures praised Kaepernick for his courageous act. But of course, as with anything, that sentiment quickly changed as the majority of NFL owners decided to take a stance against the outspoken free agent.
Most owners weren’t comfortable with the idea of employing a controversial player, so Kaepernick was essentially blacklisted from the league. This was despite the fact that some teams were in dire need of a quarterback and despite the fact that Kaepernick had gone to the Super Bowl and had a career passer rating of 89.7 – not to mention his charity work both on and off the field.
I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for him to not just be excluded from the NFL, but to be completely frozen out in the process. No matter what you think of Kaepernick, it’s impossible not to sympathize with him at this point. Despite his stellar career stats, he hasn’t been officially employed by a NFL team since 2016.
Not surprisingly, this prompted a strong backlash from Kaepernick’s supporters and it increased tenfold after the NFL attempted (and failed) to settle his collusion case against them. It basically confirmed what many already knew: Kaepernick was never given a fair shot at making it back into the league.
Since then he has continued to fight for equal rights and social justice, and he has built a successful career off the field. Although this surely would have felt like a blessing in disguise, he still hasn’t given up on his NFL dreams. But four years on, it’s becoming increasingly likely that Kaepernick will never play in the NFL again.
I can’t help but feel sad about this situation. Here we have a 31-year-old former Super Bowl quarterback, who has done so much for the sport and yet he is still unable to play. It’s really disheartening to think about. Despite his stellar career stats, he hasn’t been officially employed by a NFL team since 2016.
The fact that Kaepernick’s impact on the NFL extends far beyond the gridiron makes this even more disheartening. Not only did he demand change through peaceful protest, he also pushed the league to become more socially aware and engaged. Cheap Jerseys from china racial justice to criminal justice and wholesale jerseys gender equity, Kaepernick has been advocating for much-needed change in the NFL.
Some teams have taken a page out of Kaepernick’s book by supporting social justice initiatives, committing to creating a more inclusive workplace and standing firm against police brutality. But that’s not enough. It’s time for the NFL to take a stand and call an official end to Kaepernick’s blacklisting.
I believe that Kaepernick deserves an opportunity to compete for a starting job, especially considering that some of the inferior quarterbacks who have been signed in the past couple of years have had far worse stats. It’s high time the NFL righted the wrongs of the past, and I truly hope they eventually make the right decision.
At the end of the day this isn’t just about football. It’s about doing the right thing and showing the world that the NFL is willing to stand up for what’s right. Kaepernick made it clear with his activism that he isn’t afraid to fight for justice, and it’s time for the NFL to follow his example and finally open its doors to one of the most talented quarterbacks of the past decade.