Colin Kaepernick is wasting no time setting the record straight. During his current book tour, the former NFL quarterback took direct aim at Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, reigniting a feud that has simmered since 2016.
Kaepernick, 38, hasn't played in the NFL since that season, when he began kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial injustice. His actions sparked a league-wide movement, but they also drew sharp criticism from several team owners, including Jones.
At a stop on his tour promoting his memoir, A Perilous Fight, released September 15, Kaepernick was asked about Jones and other owners who opposed his protest. His response was fiery and unapologetic.
"It's the same thing that I've said in the past, which is, why are you so comfortable working against black folks trying to live?" Kaepernick said on stage. "People revealed who they were. We were fighting specifically against police killing black folks."
He went on to express amazement that anyone could be against his message. "It's amazing to me that there's anybody that's like, 'I'm against that.' The people who came out and fought against it revealed their intentions. My question would be, why are you so comfortable with it?"
Jones, for his part, made his stance clear at the time, saying the protests were hurting the league. "There is no question the league is suffering negative effects from these protests," he said in 2016. "If all this makes you stronger to represent messages, let's don't do it in a way that tears down the strength of the NFL."
While Kaepernick's words carry weight a decade later, the league continues to grapple with similar tensions. Just this season, referees have faced backlash for their handling of sideline confrontations, showing that the NFL's relationship with controversy remains complicated.
Meanwhile, Jones's Cowboys are off to a 2-2 start and face the Buccaneers on Thursday Night Football. But for Kaepernick, the focus remains on the bigger picture.
His wife, Nessa, has also weighed in, recently issuing a warning to the NFL about the league's handling of social justice issues. It's clear the conversation Kaepernick started is far from over.
As Kaepernick continues his tour, his message is resonating with fans who see his fight as emblematic of broader struggles. Whether Jones or other owners will ever engage in a meaningful dialogue remains to be seen.
