Ten years ago, Colin Kaepernick, then quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, began kneeling during the pregame national anthem to draw attention to police brutality and racial injustice in the United States. The gesture, quiet but unmistakable, quickly became one of the most polarizing moments in modern American sports, inspiring other athletes to follow his lead while drawing sharp criticism from fans, team owners, and even the White House.
A decade later, Kaepernick says he is still paying the price. According to the report, he insists that no NFL franchise has offered him a contract since he became a free agent following that season, effectively ending his playing career at just 29 years old. He argues that the league has quietly kept him out of the sport as punishment for his activism, despite his on-field record before the protests began.
The anniversary has reignited debate over how the NFL — and American sports culture more broadly — have handled athlete activism since 2016. Supporters see Kaepernick as a pioneer who sacrificed his career for a larger cause, while critics maintain his exclusion was a business decision unrelated to his political stance.
To read the full story and Kaepernick’s own words, check out the original report from La Jornada.
Source: A 10 años de su protesta antirracista, Colin Kaepernick acusa que la NFL aún lo veta (jornada.com.mx). English version produced with AI assistance.
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