Colin Kaepernick recently opened up about his stance on returning to the NFL.
On a recent episode of I Am Athlete, Kaepernick discussed his desire to return to the NFL in a conversation with former players Chad Johnson, Adam “Pacman” Jones and Brandon Marshall.
The conversation was one of Kaepernick’s first on-camera interviews, and he said he would be willing to be a backup player.
Marshall asked Kaepernick if he’d be willing to take on a similar role to that which Carmelo Anthony took in the NBA, where he was a sort of backup player, and Kaepernick said he be willing to start as a backup and move his way up.
“I know I have to find my way back in. So if I have to come in as a backup, that’s fine,” Kaepernick said. “But that’s not where I’m staying. And when I prove that I’m a starter, I want to be able to step on the field as such.”
“I just need that opportunity to walk through the door,” said Kaepernick.
Kaepernick began protesting racial injustice, police brutality, and systemic oppression in 2016 by kneeling during the national anthem which caused a lot of negative reactions.
The following year he opted out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers and has since been unable to sign with any other NFL team.
David Robinson, a trainer who has worked with Kaepernick, said that multiple teams have reached out with interest in Kaepernick.
Robinson told TMZ that “at least” five NFL teams reached out asking how the former quarterback’s arm looked.
He also added that Kaepernick is still in great shape and, “Definitely has the ability to play on somebody’s roster — like, right now.”
Kaepernick had expressed his desire to return to the NFL in previous interviews, including one for Ebony in 2021.
“I am still up at 5 a.m. training five, six days a week making sure I’m prepared to take a team to a Super Bowl again,” Kaepernick told The View co-host Sunny Hostin in a previous interview. “That’s not something I will ever let go of, regardless of the actions of 32 teams and their partners to deny me employment.”
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