Staff Reports
Colin Kaepernick is back in the headlines, still dreaming of a Hollywood-style NFL comeback nearly seven years after taking his last snap. The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback has evidently mistaken a prolonged absence from professional football as just a minor sabbatical rather than a full-scale retirement. As if the football world has been holding its breath for him to reveal his latest training regimen to the masses, Kaepernick is lobbying for some NFL team to roll out the red carpet. Given that he hasn’t been relevant in nearly a decade, one has to wonder if he’s also considered a career in motivational speaking – because the only audience interested seems to be the one dreaming of what might have been.
Kaepernick’s interest in returning to a league that moved on faster than it can call a two-minute warning raises eyebrows. His self-proclaimed optimism about still having it seems reminiscent of an aging rock star who hasn’t realized that their concert days were over long ago. The insistence that he would bring a championship-winning miracle to a team sounds less credible when one considers it’s hard to win a game from the sidelines. Not to mention, he’s had plenty of time to craft a comeback story that feels more like a Netflix series than a reality.
🗣️ "We've just got to get one of these team owners to open up"
Colin Kaepernick on his desire to return to NFL 🏈 pic.twitter.com/jcV77pORN2
— Sky Sports NFL (@SkySportsNFL) August 13, 2024
Critics of Kaepernick’s ambitions haven’t been shy to voice their thoughts, describing his aspirations as downright delusional. A recent post from ProFootballTalk noted the absurdity of a player who, after over seven long years out of the league, still thinks he can waltz back in like he’s merely been on vacation. Former NFL player Taylor Lewan summed it up nicely, suggesting that it might just be time to hang up the cleats for good rather than keep chasing a dream that exited stage left long ago.
Let’s not forget the sour legacy that Kaepernick has left in his wake. Kneeling during the national anthem in 2016 ignited a firestorm that created divisions and had football fans scratching their heads in disappointment. A gesture intended to spark conversation on social issues instead became an anthem for those who felt disrespected by the act, turning loyal supporters of the NFL into former fans quicker than a turnover on the field. It’s almost funny how the NFL, initially caught in an identity crisis between its players and fans, has now seemingly decided it’s safer to stick with traditions that honor the flag and country.
To punctuate the irony, Kaepernick’s political protests ended up sparking a movement that might have ultimately harmed his career. He became a free agent in 2017 and has remained unsigned ever since, leading him to cry foul over being blackballed for his political beliefs. In a twist worthy of a dramatic plot, he even settled a grievance with the league, alleging collusion to keep him out. It begs the question: if Kaepernick truly believes he still has the chops for the NFL, wouldn’t he want a shot to prove it rather than just point fingers at a cosmic injustice? Maybe he missed the memo that accountability also applies to him.
As the super-crazy saga of Colin Kaepernick continues, it appears some things might be best left on the sidelines. With every new attempt at relevance, it seems that Kaepernick is playing for a crowd that long stopped cheering for him, leaving average American football fans wondering if it’s time for the music to just fade out.
