Colin Kaepernick has never been one to stay silent, and his latest broadside against the NFL is as sharp as ever. The former quarterback, who hasn't taken a snap since 2016, is now accusing the league's owners of lying when they deny any coordinated effort to keep him out. His proof? The recent decision to block rapper Macklemore from performing at Gillette Stadium.
In a candid interview on The MeidasTouch Podcast, Kaepernick didn't mince words. "The part that I hope people take away in this moment is what Robert Kraft and what they're saying by denying Macklemore the opportunity to perform with Ed Sheeran is they are willing to collude. They are openly colluding," he said. The reference to the New England Patriots owner is pointed, as Kraft's stadium is the site of the ban, reportedly because Macklemore has been vocal about supporting Palestinians during the Gaza conflict.
For Kaepernick, this is just the latest chapter in a saga that began nearly a decade ago. After kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial injustice and police brutality, he became a free agent in 2017 and never signed with another team. Despite being just a few years removed from leading the San Francisco 49ers to a Super Bowl, he was suddenly untouchable. He filed a grievance against the NFL in 2017, alleging that owners colluded to blackball him, but the case was settled in 2019 under undisclosed terms.
Now, Kaepernick is using Macklemore's situation as a rallying cry. "When we filed the grievance, it was like, well, the owners wouldn't do that. Everybody just wants to win within the NFL. And the realization is, no. They want to protect their interests. They want to protect their power. They want to protect their money. And they also want people to know that if you take an action that they don't agree with, they will come for you," he explained.
He added, "And that was some of the warning coming out of the protest and some of the warning coming out of the grievance, is that they will organize against you. Which means that we collectively have to organize to be able to protect our interests as well."
The 37-year-old has repeatedly stated that he hasn't given up on playing again. In a separate interview with the San Francisco Standard, he revealed that he and his team have been relentless in their pursuit. "Over the last 10 years, we have consistently reached out to teams, over and over again, knocking on every door possible, and that's shown up [publicly] in a few instances, the most recent one being 2022, the workout with the Raiders. For me, I want to make sure that at any point in time, if my door is knocked on, that I'm ready to go," he said.
That 2022 workout with the Las Vegas Raiders was seen as a potential turning point, but it ultimately led nowhere. Kaepernick's financial losses from the blackballing have been well-documented, with estimates running into the hundreds of millions. Despite the setbacks, he remains a polarizing figure, with some fans criticizing his continued criticism of the league.
But Kaepernick isn't backing down. He's also been honored for his activism, including receiving the Muhammad Ali Center's 2026 Humanitarian Award, a recognition that underscores his impact beyond football. His mother once tried to steer him toward a different path, but he's stayed true to his convictions, as detailed in his unapologetic political evolution.
As the NFL continues to navigate its relationship with social justice, Kaepernick's words carry weight. Whether or not he ever plays again, his accusations of collusion have forced a conversation that isn't going away. For now, he's left the ball in the owners' court, waiting to see if they'll ever truly open the door.
