Is Kaepernick In The Nfl?

Is Kaepernick In The Nfl?

This is a question that has been on the minds of many NFL fans ever since the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback first took a knee during the national anthem in 2016. And with the recent resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, the question has become even more relevant. So, what is the answer?

Reasons for Kaepernick not being in the NFL

There are a number of reasons why Colin Kaepernick is not currently signed to an NFL team. For one, his protesting of the National Anthem has made him a controversial figure. Additionally, Kaepernick has not played football in over a year and some teams may feel he is rusty. Finally, his style of play does not fit every NFL team’s system.

He’s not good enough

The main reason that Colin Kaepernick is not in the NFL is because he is not good enough. He has not shown that he can be a consistent starting quarterback in the league. His statistics are not impressive, and he has not shown that he can lead a team to success. There are other quarterbacks who are more talented and more accomplished than Kaepernick, and teams have decided to sign those players instead.

He’s a distraction

Kaepernick is seen as a distraction by many NFL teams. Some believe that the potential media circus that would follow signing him would be a major distraction for their team, and they don’t want to deal with it. Additionally, Kaepernick’s protests during the national anthem are seen as disrespectful by some, and signing him would anger fans who feel that way. For these reasons, many teams are unwilling to sign Kaepernick, even if he is talented enough to play in the NFL.

He’s too old

At 32, Kaepernick is now one of the oldest quarterbacks in the NFL. He hasn’t played in an NFL game since 2016, and he hasn’t really been on an NFL roster since 2017, when he opted out of his contract with the 49ers. In the four years since then, Kaepernick has been training and waiting for another chance to play in the NFL. But as he’s gotten older, his opportunities have dwindled.

Kaepernick’s age is likely a factor in why he hasn’t been signed by an NFL team. In the four years since he last played in the NFL, 31 quarterbacks have been drafted in the first round. And of those 31 quarterbacks, only three (Deshaun Watson, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson) are older than Kaepernick. The rest are all younger, and they’ve all had a chance to prove themselves at the NFL level while Kaepernick has not.

In addition, there are currently only four starting quarterbacks in the NFL who are older than Kaepernick: Tom Brady (43), Drew Brees (42), Ben Roethlisberger (39) and Philip Rivers (39). And of those four, only Brady has shown any signs of slowing down; Brees, Roethlisberger and Rivers have all continued to play at a high level despite their advanced age.

So it’s clear that teams are generally more interested in younger quarterbacks than older ones. And that’s likely one reason why Kaepernick hasn’t been signed by an NFL team over the past four years.

Reasons for Kaepernick being in the NFL

Kaepernick is in the NFL because of the talent that he has. He was a starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers and guided them to the Super Bowl. He has the ability to make all the throws and is a threat to run the ball as well. There are other reasons as well.

He’s good enough

Kaepernick is good enough to be in the NFL. It’s not like he doesn’t have the skill set. He was a starting quarterback in the NFL. He took a team to the Super Bowl. He has a career quarterback rating of 90.7, which is better than average.

He’s not a distraction

Most players who protest during the anthem do so quietly, but Kaepernick’s method — kneeling during the song — has been interpreted by some as disrespectful to the military. Kaepernick has said he’s “not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.”

Whatever your opinion on Kaepernick’s form of protest, it’s worth noting that he is far from the only player who has protested during the anthem in recent years, and he isn’t even the only player doing it this season. Several other players, including some on Kaepernick’s own team, have joined him in kneeling or sitting during the anthem this season. So far, none of them have faced the same kind of backlash that Kaepernick has.

He’s not too old

At only 30 years old, Kaepernick is far from being over the hill in football years. In fact, many NFL quarterbacks don’t hit their stride until their 30s. So age shouldn’t be a factor in whether or not he’s given a chance to play.

Conclusion

No, Kaepernick is not currently signed to an NFL team. He became a free agent in 2017 and has not been signed by a team since. There have been rumors that he may sign with a team in the future, but as of right now, he is not on an NFL roster.