I recently had the opportunity to cover a shocking revelation from former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick. The once dominant San Francisco 49er, who made headlines for his protests against racial injustice, has made a surprising admission about his relationship with the league he once starred in.
The Wall Street Journal’s Andrew Beaton asked Kaepernick if he still enjoys watching the NFL while he was speaking at a tech conference in California. The response from the 36-year-old quarterback was both unexpected and intriguing.
“I haven’t watched a game in 8 years,” Kaepernick told Beaton, stunning the audience with his candid admission.
Despite not participating in an NFL game since 2016, Kaepernick continues to closely monitor the league’s statistics and player advancements. However, he made it clear that he has no desire to actually watch the games themselves.
“Yes, I continue to monitor everyone’s stats,” he stated. “It also determines who my agent contacts, but I continue to monitor the stats,” he said. I see what’s going on. Although I don’t actively participate in games, I need to stay informed about the current state of quarterbacks.
This revelation is particularly striking given Kaepernick’s tumultuous history with the NFL. The former 49er quarterback was at the center of a heated debate in 2016 when he began kneeling during the national anthem to protest the lack of attention given to issues of racial inequality and police brutality in the country.
Despite the controversy, Kaepernick’s cause sparked a nationwide conversation on these critical issues. However, his actions ultimately led to his departure from the league, with many accusing team owners of colluding to keep him out.
Kaepernick would go on to settle a grievance with the NFL in 2019, further cementing his status as a polarizing figure within the sport.
While Kaepernick may no longer be an active participant in the NFL, it’s clear that he still maintains a keen interest in the game he once dominated. The former quarterback revealed that he wakes up at 3:30 a.m. every day to train, ensuring that he remains in peak physical condition should an opportunity to return to the league arise.
“I still wake up every morning and train. I’ve had to slightly modify my schedule, which may sound a bit strange, but I wake up at 3:30 a.m., begin my workday, and then proceed to my training. I still train every day; I still train the way I was when I was playing, making sure that I’m ready at any given moment,” Kaepernick said.
Despite his absence from the field, Kaepernick has remained vocal about his desire to return to the NFL. During the recent Paris Olympics, he expressed his belief that he could “bring a lot to a team and help them win a championship” if given the opportunity.
However, the former 49er’s expectations for a potential comeback could make achieving that goal challenging. Teams may find it challenging to justify taking a chance on the once-dynamic quarterback, given his unwavering stance on his political and social beliefs and the lingering controversy surrounding his departure from the league.
As a news reporter, I’ll be closely following any developments in Kaepernick’s quest to return to the NFL. His unique perspective and unwavering commitment to his principles have made him a polarizing figure, but there’s no denying the impact he’s had on the sports landscape and the broader societal conversation.