Kaepernick has been a free agent since he took a stand against police brutality in 2016, but that all might be about to change.
After years of being off the field, Colin Kaepernick has been invited to a televised private workout that includes on-field work, per the NFL’s invitation. All clubs that don’t personally attend will have access to footage of the session.
This is a watershed moment for Kaepernick, who sued the NFL in 2017 after he was not signed to a single team despite having an excellent record as a player. In 2018, the NFL voted that all players be required to stand during the national anthem or the entire team could face consequences and penalties from the league.
Kaepernick could be looking at more time on the field this season and possibly a return to football. The move signals a change in the NFL’s stance on the entire kneeling-during-the-anthem controversy; previously, they had adopted a very hard line. Kaepernick was a talented player when he was on the field and has the potential to enhance the offensive line of any team onto which he is placed.
It also marks a huge change since 2017, when Trump called for NFL players who kneel during the anthem to be “fired.” Kaepernick’s protest ignited nationwide debate about respectfulness towards the armed forces, police brutality, and racism in America. His informal dismissal from the NFL suggested a lack of support for these ideas. Hopefully, we can all see a talented athlete return to a sport that he clearly loves without being censored by the league.
