KEY POINTS

  • NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says teams should give Colin Kaepernick a chance
  • Kaepernick has not played since 2016
  • Goodell's comments believed to be insincere

Colin Kaepernick has been out of the NFL for about four years now. He last played for the San Francisco 49ers in 2016 and never got the chance to suit up for other teams. Some felt that some blackballing was happening, all linked to the kneeling protests done 36th pick of the 2011 NFL Draft at the time.

Fast-forward to today, Kaepernick seems to be getting some vindication following the death of George Floyd. Racial injustice and police brutality have reached a critical level and it appears the reality of that has softened the previous stand of select people. One of them is NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. In a poll set by Forbes, some people believed that Goodell owes Kaepernick an apology. Though it was never proven, most believe that Goodell may have had a hand as to why teams distanced themselves from signing the 32-year-old quarterback the past years.

However, it appears Goodell has taken a different stance on Kapernick. In a report from ESPN, Goodell is now encouraging teams to consider signing Kaepernick. The call came a bit of a surprise to most, yet another move by the commissioner with racial issues continuing to mount in the United States.

“If his efforts are not on the field but continuing to work in this space, we welcome him to that table and to help us, guide us, help us make better decisions about the kinds of things that need to be done in the communities,” Goodell said.

In an Instagram post, Goodell mentioned how they were wrong when they did not listen to the NFL players who were showing and voicing out their issues. Now, the shoe is on the other food with Goodell urging players to speak out and peacefully protest. He never mentioned the name of Kapernick in that post.

Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick's kneeling protest of racial injustice became a US controversy
Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick's kneeling protest of racial injustice became a US controversy GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Carmen Mandato

Many teams have considered Kaepernick the past years but nothing went beyond. Now, only the Seattle Seahawks have been tied to the 32-year-old quarterback and head coach Pete Carroll believes that talks with Kaepernick should be revisited.

In a previous post, it was mentioned how Kaepernick has not given up his NFL dream and has been keeping himself in shape. But being out for so long, he may have a lot of work to do to make it back into the NFL. But all that can only start when a team gives him a workout.