LOS ANGELES.- Ten years after starting the protest that shook American sports, Colin Kaepernick stated that the NFL He continues to veto him due to his political positions and described the American Football League’s response to allegations of racism as “false.”
In an unusual interview with NBC News, the former quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers He maintained that he sees no reason to reconcile with an entity that, in his opinion, has never assumed responsibilities for its treatment of players who demonstrated against racial injustice.
“I’m not going to support an organization that, one, is actively banning me and, two, has targeted my brothers who have also been protesting as part of this,” Kaepernick said.
The former 49ers offensive leader, who led the franchise to superbowl in 2013, he has not played an NFL game since the end of the 2016 season.
His departure coincided with the controversy generated by the protests that began during the interpretation of the American anthem, a decision that transformed his figure into one of the most visible symbols of sports activism in his country.
Now, 38 years old, Kaepernick returns to the center of the debate with the publication of “The Perilous Fight”, a work halfway between memoirs and political manifesto.
Blocked “from above”
In the book he reveals that the idea of kneeling during the anthem before a game in September 2016 arose from a conversation with his then teammate Eric Reid.
Until then, Kaepernick had already received criticism for remaining seated during the pregame ceremony, but he was looking for a more visible form of protest.
The gesture was eventually replicated by dozens of players inside and outside the NFL, although he continued to be the main target of questioning, even from the president. Donald Trump.
“After coming from playing a superbowl, a NFC Championship (National Conference), to break records, and not a single team wanted to bring me, not even for a tryout?” he asked.
According to the former 49ers quarterback, several coaches expressed interest in hiring him, but ended up being “blocked from above.”
Kaepernick also recalled that during a meeting with the Seattle Seahawks in 2017 he was repeatedly questioned about his political positions.
“Which, in virtually any environment outside of the NFL, would be immediate cause for litigation,” he said.
The NFL defends itself
The athlete’s criticism also extends to the NFL’s response after the massive protests triggered by the death of George Floyd in 2020, suffocated by a police officer in Minneapolis.
Kaepernick considers that the subsequent messages from the NFL commissioner, Roger Goodellwere a reaction to public pressure and not a genuine change.
“We’ve been trying to address the problem the NFL created by banning me for years. To come out and say we should have listened after that, while I’m still actively trying to play in the NFL, is so theatrical.”
The NFL responded to NBC News that the issues raised by Kaepernick remain important to the league and highlighted the programs promoted through the “Inspire Change” initiative.
However, the free agent says he still does not see real transformations. “None of his actions show it,” he said.
