The return of Colin Kaepernick? Players, coaches, politicians urge NFL to rehire him
The silence echoing in through the mouth of the NFL was bombastic a few years ago.
Metaphorically, it reflected the silent scream former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick made when he called out racial injustice by quietly taking a knee as teammates and fans stood for the national anthem before a preseason game in 2016.
“I am not going to stand up and show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick said, NFL.com reported. “To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”
After the media took notice, the dominoes began to fall, ultimately ending with Kaepernick and the 49ers cutting ties in 2017. He was a free agent.
As of June 2020, he still is.
And influential people all over the country are calling out the NFL for it.
Roger Goodell unmuted
On Friday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell released a video via Twitter in response to the video “Stronger Together,” which featured multiple black football players asking the league to condemn racism.
“We, the National Football League, condemn racism and the systematic oppression of black people,” Goodell said in the video. “We, the National Football League, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest,”
Notably missing from Goodell’s dialogue? The name Colin Kaepernick.
“Without black players, there would be no National Football League,” Goodell said (70% of NFL players are African American, Forbes reported). “And the pros around the country are emblematic of the centuries of silence, inequality and oppression of black players, coaches, fans and staff.”
Athletes, coaches, and even congressmen are now asking Goodell to put his money where his mouth is and urge teams to sign Kaepernick for the 2020 season.
Calling for Kaepernick
On Monday, Seattle Seahawks running back Carlos Hyde, a former teammate of Kaepernick, spoke to ESPN about how he believes a team signing the quarterback will show that the league is serious about playing a role in improving issues of racial inequality.
“I think the NFL can start by signing Kap back,” Hyde said. “I think if they sign Kap back, that’ll show that they’re really trying to move in a different direction. Because Kap was making a statement four years ago about what’s going on in today’s world and the NFL didn’t bother to listen to him then, so I think they should start by doing that. After that, I’m not really sure what the NFL can do.”
And he’s not the only one.
On Tuesday, Rev. Al Sharpton delivered the eulogy for George Floyd at his funeral in Houston, during which he called out the NFL for its treatment of Kaepernick, Yahoo Sports reported.
“It’s nice to see some people change their minds,” Sharpton said. “The head of the NFL said, ‘Yeah, maybe we was wrong. Football players — maybe they did have the right to peacefully protest.’ Well don’t apologize, give Colin Kaepernick a job back.
“You sorry? Then repay the damage you did to the career you stood down. Because when Colin took a knee, he took it for the families in this building. And we don’t want an apology. We want him repaired.”
Massachusetts congressman Joe Kennedy III joined the conversation Tuesday on Twitter.
“The NFL should apologize to Colin Kaepernick and the Patriots should sign him,” Kennedy tweeted.
While he didn’t call directly for Kaepernick’s rehire, Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores, one of four black or Latino NFL coaches, said that he severed friendships over Kaepernick debates over the years and told those people to show similar outrage over racial injustice as they did for a quarterback kneeling during the anthem, his statement said via Twitter.
Which team would fit Kap best?
Kaepernick’s playing style was an undeniable fit when the 49ers drafted him in 2010, when the obsession with duel-threat, mobile quarterbacks was nearing the starting line.
Today, it’s still the same. Mobile creators such as Patrick Mahomes, Deshaun Wilson, Russell Wilson and Lamar Jackson put fans in the stands with their style. It’s a style thatstill fits the now 32-year-old Kaepernick.
“There’s no shortage of middling backup quarterbacks on NFL rosters,” Yahoo Sports wrote. “Players who — even if they reach their zeniths — won’t ever be as good as Kaepernick likely is now.”
Once such team where media members believe he’ll fit in nicely is the Kansas City Chiefs.
“Kansas City is the one place I could see it working. Maybe even Houston,” Fox Sports’ Doug Gottlieb said Monday on his radio show, The Kansas City Star reported. “Sitting behind Pat Mahomes makes the most sense. It’s the best quarterback in the league. He’s coached by a guy (Andy Reid) who can really help him.
“Additionally, if Kaepernick wants to play football, think of all the Andy Reid guys that are out there. Doug Pederson, Matt Nagy, (Chiefs offensive coordinator) Eric Bieniemy eventually will probably get a head coaching job this upcoming year.”
MSN Sports believes that the Baltimore Ravens would also be a good fit considering Kaepernick thrived under Jim Harbaugh, the brother of John Harbaugh, the head coach of the Ravens. It also helps that Greg Roman, the Ravens’ offensive coordinator was the OC with Kaepernick in San Francisco.
But what about Kaepernick’s former team?
That would be a stern no, The Sacramento Bee reports.
“Teams regularly change quarterbacks when new regimes are installed, particularly following two-win seasons like the 49ers had in 2016 when Kaepernick was last the starter,” the Bee said in Wednesday’s 49ers Mailbag. “He would be a tough fit for (head coach) Kyle Shanahan’s offense, which relies heavily on getting the ball out quickly and accurately, where (quarterback Jimmy) Garoppolo excels, while Kaepernick is more known for his big arm and play-making with his legs.”
This story was originally published June 10, 2020 at 1:28 PM with the headline "The return of Colin Kaepernick? Players, coaches, politicians urge NFL to rehire him."