Colin Kaepernick is once again speaking out about his relationship with the NFL, claiming the league has continued to keep him away from football while also refusing to provide him with a pension.
During a recent podcast appearance, Kaepernick expressed frustration over what he described as years of being shut out by the league. He said he believes the NFL has made a deliberate effort to prevent him from returning to the organization in any capacity.
“They’re actively trying to blacklist me and ban me for life from the NFL,” Kaepernick said. “They haven’t given me any pension since 2017, and every request I’ve made for a pension has been denied.”
Kaepernick also pointed to his decision to kneel during the national anthem as one of the defining moments of his NFL career. The protest, which began during the 2016 season, sparked a nationwide debate about racial inequality, policing and athletes using their platforms to make political statements.
“What I did for the league, with the whole kneeling movement, I think it’s the best legacy I’ve given to the NFL,” Kaepernick said.
He argued that regardless of whether people agreed with his decision, the controversy surrounding the protests made him one of the most recognizable players associated with the league in recent years.
Kaepernick has remained outside the NFL since last playing in 2016. Over the years, he has continued to express interest in returning to professional football while also pursuing activism and other projects outside the sport.
The comments prompted a sharp response from Alex Bruno, described in the story as a senior NFL representative, who dismissed Kaepernick’s complaints.
“What has Mr. Kneeler ever given to the league in the past 10 years?” Bruno said. “He’s just a washed-up wokester who’s trying to be relevant now.”
Bruno continued his criticism by arguing that Kaepernick’s legacy with the league is primarily associated with his decision to kneel rather than his accomplishments on the football field.
“His only specialty is kneeling and making excuses,” Bruno added. “Maybe he should just focus on that.”
Kaepernick’s supporters, meanwhile, have continued to point to his protest as one of the most significant athlete-led demonstrations in modern American sports. His decision eventually inspired other players to kneel or otherwise demonstrate during the anthem.
The controversy surrounding his NFL career has never completely disappeared, with debates continuing over whether his absence from the league was primarily related to football considerations, the fallout from his protests, or a combination of factors.
Kaepernick has consistently maintained that he still wants the opportunity to play football and has remained vocal about his desire to return.
For now, however, his latest comments suggest that his frustration with the NFL has not gone away.
“I gave everything I had to that league,” Kaepernick said. “I played, I competed and I stood for what I believed in. I don’t think asking for recognition after all these years is unreasonable.”
The NFL has not indicated that Kaepernick is being considered for a return to the field.
And judging from the latest exchange, the relationship between Kaepernick and the league remains as complicated as ever.