This archive report was first published on 19 June 2020.
June 19, 2020, marked a significant turning point for Colin Kaepernick. Four years after launching a protest movement that effectively ended his NFL career, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback now stands vindicated.
From being widely vilified for kneeling during the US national anthem to protest racial injustice and police brutality, Kaepernick has gained widespread acceptance. The surging currents of the Black Lives Matter movement have forced many of his critics to reverse course.
Across the NFL, players who were previously hesitant to speak out are now stating their determination to kneel in solidarity with Kaepernick this season. Even President Donald Trump, who once suggested Kaepernick should 'find a country that works better for him' and that players taking a knee were 'sons of bitches' who should be fired, now believes the quarterback should 'absolutely' be given another chance in the NFL.
However, a return to the NFL may not be as straightforward as it seems. Kaepernick, 32, has not played a down in the NFL since January 1, 2017. Returning to the sport after a near four-year layoff would be virtually unprecedented.
Only Michael Vick, who joined the Philadelphia Eagles in 2009 after serving a two-year prison sentence for running a dog-fighting ring, is comparable. Vick, who was 29 at the time, made only one start for the Eagles that year as he readjusted to life in the NFL. A similarly arduous rehabilitation could be expected for Kaepernick.
Despite the challenges, NFL super agent Drew Rosenhaus is adamant that Kaepernick will find a team. 'I think he should get signed. I think he will get signed,' Rosenhaus said. 'Bring him to training camp and give him a chance to compete like everybody else. He deserves that.'
The NFL has already extended an olive branch to Kaepernick, who reached a settlement with the league last year after filing a grievance alleging NFL owners conspired to keep him out of the league. Last November, the NFL organised a workout for him in Atlanta, inviting all 32 teams to send representatives. However, Kaepernick eventually withdrew 30 minutes before the start of the workout after complaining about the exclusion of media and the terms of an NFL liability waiver.
