Is Colin Kaepernick Coming Back To The NFL?

As the NFL season approaches, many are wondering if Colin Kaepernick will make a return to the league. After a successful career with the San Francisco 49ers, Kaepernick has been a free agent since 2017. Some speculate that he is being blackballed by the NFL due to his involvement in social justice activism, while others believe he simply hasn’t been signed because he isn’t good enough. No matter the reason, it’s clear that Kaepernick is a controversial figure.

Introduction

It’s been over three years since Colin Kaepernick played in an NFL game, but the question of whether he’ll return to the league continues to be a hot topic. The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback, who kneeled during the national anthem to protest racial injustice, remains unsigned and has filed a grievance against the NFL, alleging that team owners have colluded to keep him out of the league.

While Kaepernick has remained active off the field, participating in various social justice initiatives, he has not given up on his football career. In an interview with ESPN in October 2019, he said he’s “still ready” to play and is “staying prepared for whenever that opportunity arises.”

So, is Colin Kaepernick coming back to the NFL? It’s hard to say for sure. But considering his skill as a quarterback and his continued interest in playing, it’s certainly possible that we’ll see him back on the field at some point in the future.

Colin Kaepernick’s Career

Colin Kaepernick, once a starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, has not played in the NFL since the 2016 season. He became a free agent in 2017, but no team has signed him to a contract. Kaepernick drew national attention that year when he began kneeling during the playing of the national anthem as a way of protesting racial injustice.

San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers drafted Colin Kaepernick in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He became the 49ers starting quarterback midway through the 2012 season and helped lead the team to Super Bowl XLVII. After losing the Super Bowl to the Baltimore Ravens, Kaepernick led the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game for a second straight year in 2013 but lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. In 2014, Kaepernick and the 49ers struggled, and he was eventually replaced by Blaine Gabbert as the team’s starting quarterback.

Free Agency

After going unsigned through the first two weeks of free agency, Colin Kaepernick finally has a job. The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback has agreed to a deal with the Seattle Seahawks, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The Seahawks have been in the market for a backup quarterback since trading for veteranPass rusher Jadeveon Clowney last month. They brought in several veterans for workouts, including former New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith, but ultimately decided on Kaepernick.

Reasons For Kaepernick Not Being Signed

Colin Kaepernick has not been signed to an NFL team since he became a free agent in 2017. There are a number of reasons why he has not been signed, including his protests against racial injustice and police brutality. He has also been outspoken about other social issues, such as Donald Trump and the NFL itself.

Protesting During The National Anthem

Kaepernick made headlines in 2016 when he chose to kneel during the national anthem to protest racial injustice and police brutality. The act was a polarizing one, with some people lauding Kaepernick for his bravery and others criticizing him for being disrespectful to the flag. Regardless of where people fell on the issue, Kaepernick’s choice to kneel during the anthem ultimately cost him his job. He has not been signed by an NFL team since he became a free agent in 2017, and many believe that his activism is the reason why.

Lack Of Skill

In 2016, Colin Kaepernick, then quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, kneeled during the National Anthem in protest of police brutality and systemic racism in America. The act sparked a nationwide conversation and divided many Americans, with some arguing that Kaepernick was being disrespectful and others praising him for his courage. Nevertheless, Kaepernick continued to kneel throughout the 2016 season and even after he left the 49ers, but he has not been signed to another team since then. In this article, we will explore the possible reasons why Colin Kaepernick has not been signed by an NFL team since his protest.

One reason why Colin Kaepernick may not have been signed by an NFL team is because he is simply not good enough. In 2016, Kapernick’s statistics showed that he was one of the worst quarterbacks in the league; among quarterbacks who played at least 12 games, he ranked 28th out of 32 in touchdown-to-interception ratio, 29th in yards per attempt, and 26th in quarterback rating. Although it is true that other quarterbacks with similar or worse statistics have been signed by NFL teams, it is also worth noting that most of those quarterbacks were signed to backup roles or as part of a quarterback competition, whereas Kaepernick was a starting quarterback prior to his protest. In other words, teams may have been more willing to overlook his poor statistics if he had not been a starting quarterback before.

Another reason why Colin Kaepernick may not have been signed by an NFL team is because of the negative publicity surrounding his protest. Although many Americans praised Kaepernick for his protest, there were also many people who were critical of it; for example, then-President Donald Trump said that Kaepernick should be “fired” for kneeling during the national anthem. Consequently, signing Kaepernick may have caused some trouble for NFL teams from a public relations standpoint; indeed, one study found that Kapernick’s protest cost him $20 million in potential earnings because companies became less likely to endorse him after he kneeled.

Ultimately, whether or not Colin Kaepernick should be signed by an NFL team is a complicated question with no easy answer. However, the reasons discussed above provide some insights into why he has not been picked up by a team since his protest started nearly four years ago.

Reasons For Kaepernick Possibly Being Signed

Colin Kaepernick has not played in the NFL since 2016, but there is a possibility that he could be signed by a team this offseason. Kaepernick is only 32 years old and is still in good shape. He also has a lot of experience, starting 58 games in his career. Kaepernick also has a good arm and can still make all the throws.

Good Record When Starting

One of the main reasons that Colin Kaepernick is still a free agent is because of his good record when starting. In the 2016 season, he started in 11 games and had a 90.7 quarterback rating. In those 11 games, he also threw 16 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions. He also rushed for 468 yards and 2 touchdowns.

New NFL Rule

In recent years, the NFL has tried to distance itself from the issue of player protests during the national anthem, but the issue has flared up again. This time, however, there may be a new wrinkle that could lead to Colin Kaepernick getting another shot in the NFL: a new rule that would require all players to stand for the anthem.

According to a report from The Athletic’s Dan Graziano, the NFL is considering a new rule that would require all players to stand for the national anthem. The rule is still in the discussion phase, and it’s not clear if it will ultimately be implemented, but it’s significant because Kaepernick has been unsigned since 2017 and many have speculated that his inability to find a team is due to his decision to kneel during the anthem to protest racial injustice.

If the new rule is implemented, it would presumably put an end to any player protests during the anthem, and that could open the door for Kaepernick to be signed by a team. Of course, even if he is signed after such a rule is put in place, it’s worth noting that Kaepernick would still have to follow the rule and stand for the anthem; he wouldn’t be able to continue his protest.

It’s also worth noting that even if this new rule is enacted, there’s no guarantee that Kaepernick will actually be signed by a team. He remains a polarizing figure and there are plenty of teams who may not want to deal with the distraction of signing him. So while this new rule could theoretically clear the way for Kaepernick to return to the NFL, it’s far from certain that he will actually end up back in the league.

Conclusion

As of now, it remains to be seen if Colin Kaepernick will get another chance to play in the NFL. While it seems unlikely that he will be signed by an NFL team anytime soon, it’s important to remember that anything can happen in the world of professional sports. Only time will tell what the future holds for Kaepernick.