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Colin Kaeperick’s NFL Career Is Officially Over

Colin Kaeperick’s NFL Career Is Officially Over

Photo of Carlos Garcia Carlos Garcia Follow on Twitter August 23, 2020
Colin Kaeperick’s NFL Career Is Officially Over
Colin Kaeperick’s NFL Career Is Officially Over

Colin Kaeperick’s NFL Career Is Officially Over

Colin Kaepernick’s NFL career is officially over. For months, there has been quiet speculation regarding whether or not he will finally get a chance to return to the league that seemingly washed its hands of him four years ago.

Now we have our answer: no.

This week Mike Florio confirmed that despite NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell essentially coming out and wrapping his arms around Kaepernick, and irrespective of the very public endorsements the 32-year-old received from head coaches Anthony Lynn and Pete Carroll, nobody actually wants to sign him.

“Per a source with knowledge of the situation, Kaepernick has drawn no interest,” Florio wrote.

And with that, the pro football career of Kaepernick finally concludes. There is really no other way to interpret the situation.

Last year, the NFL was hit with a pandemic of quarterback injuries. Many insiders believed that if ever there was a time when a franchise could justify doing something controversial or polarizing at the passing position, that was it. Yet nobody called Kaepernick.

This offseason, Goodell officially signaled that it was okay to do business with Kaepernick again. Yet nobody called Kaepernick.

Nobody has signed Kaepernick up to this point, and nobody will. His NFL career is over.

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Colin Kaepernick Had A Fascinating Run

Kaepernick will go down in NFL history as a riveting what-if story. He experienced some intense high points very early on with the San Francisco 49ers, including leading the team to an NFC Championship game showing against the eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks in 2013. For his troubles, he was rewarded with a six-year extension worth up to $126 million.

Unfortunately, things fell apart for him shortly thereafter. In 2014, San Francisco finished 8-8 and failed to make the playoffs for the first time in four years. Head coach Jim Harbaugh departed to Michigan in the aftermath, and Kaepernick never achieved the level of success he had under him again.

Between playing for back-to-back terrible coaches in Jim Tomsula and Chip Kelly, and multiple injuries that dimmed his star a bit, Kaepernick’s stock began to fall dramatically.

Still, even though he no longer looked like the player he had been just a few years earlier, Kaepernick still put together a fairly solid 2016 campaign on the field. He finished the season with 2,241 passing yards, 16 passing touchdowns, four picks and added 468 yards on the ground.

That offseason, new 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan expressed a desire to move on from Kaepernick because he didn’t fit the young coach’s desired offensive scheme. The decision made sense. But Kaepernick was objectively still good enough to at the very least be backup in the NFL – if folks were going strictly by on-the-field measures.

However, 2016 marked another turning point for Kaepernick’s career. It was when he opted to kneel for the National Anthem in protest of police brutality and racial injustice. The move, although now no longer viewed through the same lens as it was back in then, made him persona non grata in the NFL. He was deemed more trouble than he was worth, and it resulted in him not getting picked up by any teams in the offseason.

Kaepernick never played another down in the NFL again.

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Closing The Book On Colin Kaepernick

These days, every sport has players kneeling for the National Anthem. It is no longer controversial in the same way it was four years ago. This prompted many to wonder whether Kaepernick may get another shot in the NFL.

But this week’s report confirms what should have been obvious long ago: Kaepernick will never play professional football again.

Too much time has passed and he comes with too much PR baggage to justify a roster spot as a third-stringer. In the same way that Tim Tebow was deemed more trouble than his inevitable media circus was worth, Kaepernick falls into the same category.

There is simply no way a guy who has been out of the league for four years can be a meaningful contributor on an NFL roster. Add in all the other off-the-field stuff, and it becomes clear why no one has called him at any point over the last few seasons. It wasn’t a strictly-football decision when he couldn’t get a job in 2017. It’s a strictly-football decision now.

It is time to accept the facts. Kaepernick’s NFL career is over. Everyone involved would be better off if they just accepted that fact and moved on with their lives.

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Photo of Carlos Garcia Carlos Garcia Follow on Twitter August 23, 2020
Photo of Carlos Garcia

Carlos Garcia

A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.

39 Comments

  1. Not to worry. Colin is now being taken care of by Disney World. You gotta give it to the libs. They will use your money to take care of all their butt buddies. Netflix taking care of the Obama’s and Colin being taken care of by Disney. Next time you spend a few hundred dollars at Disney or pay for their programming make not that you are doing your good deed taking care of another poor lib.

      2. Why are you bringing race into this, that card has already been played and this loser has already lost? Unlike you and your Democrat party where it’s all about black vs. white, we could not care less of the color of the athlete. What we care about is the elitist pricks who use their race to intimidate and demand acceptance like Kaepernick has been doing for the past few years when their on field performance no longer substantiates their unreasonable demands…………..Get woke Allen, nobody cares about race anymore other than the liberals like you who have no arguments left other than call us racists……..
        As a side note, you might want to educate yourself on how Joe Biden tried to lynch Justice Clarence Thomas during his Supreme Court senate confirmation hearings.

    2. Here are the facts:
      1. America is the most racist country in the world; PERIOT!
      2. Because of this, police brutality is Real and is supported by racist that hate people just because their skin color is different.
      3. A police officer has to kill George Floyd, on camera thank goodness, in order for Roger Goodell to finally admit the NFL was wrong!
      4. Finally… NFL owners are Trump supporters! Trump says it’s about disrespecting our flag while at the same time saying Police Brutality doesn’t exist in the United States; when you all know it does. You just don’t care if it doesn’t affect you!!!
      Finally…
      5. I am a huge 49’er fan, therefore a huge Kaepernick Fan. I would love to see him play football again… However, football is not the issue! It would be “Mission Accomplished” if Trump said…. “I was wrong. We have a major problem with POLICE BRUTALITY in our country and we are going to deal with it until we fix the problem.

      THEN WE COULD ACCEPT THAT KAEPERNICK’S CAREER IS OVER! Just deal with police brutality and stop letting officers get away with murder!

      By the way, because America is a racist country… I wouldn’t be surprised if the officers that were responsible for George Floyd’s dead get all charges dismissed.

      NOW THAT WOULD BE DISRESPECTING OUR FLAG…. Think about it!!!

      2. Something tells me you haven’t traveled a whole lot Laqueeeesha.

        It’s hilarious how this article tries to whitewashing the situation by saying kneeling “is no longer controversial”–if that were the case, then pro sports wouldn’t have ratings in the tubes. But they do. This can’t continue much longer or the entire franchise will have to start massive paycuts or even layoffs.

        You don’t have an argument about police brutality, America is among the least racist countries in the world, but the problem is the leftwing echo chamber that views everything through a racial lens–and now it’s getting ensnared by its own resentment politics.

        The only thing oppressing you is the space between your two ears, Stacey.

  7. So how do those ‘stat stack up in the League..

    Not very good.

    “In the 2016-17 NFL season, Colin Kaepernick was in the bottom half of production for quarterbacks. His 2,241 yards passing ranked 29th in the league. His quarterback rating was also near the bottom of the league. He ranked 23rd in the NFL with a 49.2 QBR.Jun 1, 2020“

  12. I Love it! These players who think it is so cool to disrespect our National Anthem can rot! I just want everyone to BOYCOTT all games, be it live or on tv, where players are kneeling. Send these retards back to where they came from.

  13. I have been a 49er fan through all of Colin Kaepernick’s 10 year with the 49ers. As such I watched every down he played. What is often missed in the story is the substantial decline in his playing. He was given lots of chances and he wasn’t developing into a better quarterback he was actually declining. When he was finally benched for an extended season poor quarterbacking, he refused to be a second string quarterback. Instead he abandoned the team and what and had elective surgery as his reason for not being a team player. The 49ers needed a backup oh, but he wasn’t interested. When he initially tried returning to the NFL, his agent made it clear that he wasn’t interested in being a backup quarterback. You can speak for you want about Kaepernick’s off-field activities as the reason for his departure oh, but there are those of us who watched every play he ever made, and we know it was no longer the quality quarterback we had hoped you would become. What is ironic is that has Kaepernick abilities on the field declined oh, he started to speak up more in the Press about the injustice. But for all the doubters, just check the film oh, he sucked as a quarterback and the fact that nobody is taking him means they also saw the film and they also concluded that he sucked. Given the current praise for Kaepernick, and accordingly the lack of controversy that would come with hiring him as a quarterback oh, we know it’s his play ability that stinks. And his attitude that stinks. When the NFL gave him a golden opportunity to show his skill oh, he decided to wear a Kunta Kinte sure, showing the NFL that he was more interested in making political statements then he was in being an NFL quarterback

  15. After being relegated to 3rd or 4th string with the 40 whiners he quit because he couldn’t go to another team. Then he was offered three chances at tryouts and he went to one, I believe, and failed and the other two he failed to attend. Disrespecting the flag and all the military people who died for that flag in this country and it’s right that he should not be in a league and I plan on not buying Nike or Disney products anymore if they still have him under contract. He should have done this protesting in the right Arena called civil court!

  17. Hmmm! Carlos, this article may be a bit premature. And your assertion that his reason for not getting picked up on a team is strictly a football decision now seems absurd given the quality of quarterbacks that have lined up behind center over the last two seasons. In terms of football Kaepernick’s career isn’t over until he says its over. As for his humanitarian endeavors well, I believe his career has just begun.

    For some of you reading this, regardless of the distain you may have for Kaepernick, you will indeed remember his name. Your sons and daughters and their children will write stories and turn in reports about Kaep and pine of his heroic efforts in sports and beyond. Documentaries are being made and films will soon follow about the injustice he faced by the NFL and his rise as a leader of justice. Colin Kaepernick will be remembered for taking a team to a Super Bowl. Colin Kaepernick will be remembered for taking a knee for injustice inflicted upon Americans just as the Constitution demands you do. Colin Kaepernick will be remembered for the heroic humanitarian he has become. His name is Colin Kaepernick! You’ll remember!

    1. Heroic efforts? Get real. Kaep was making at least $20M a year and still complained about systemic oppression. He’s a one-percenter. And now that kneeling is the status quo, attendance and viewing is down for all pro sports. This can’t continue much longer or the pro-sports industry itself will collapse. And THAT is what Colin Kaep will be known for.

  18. Ok, be sure not to confuse Heroic efforts with the amount of money someone makes and the fact that they complain about systemic oppression. Someone (a minority) can make 100 million a year and still find themselves on the brunt end of systemic oppression. The oppression is found in the system and gives no weight to earnings, rather it hinges on existence of white supremacy where no minority has control, sway, or power.
    As for heroic efforts, well they are just that, efforts, in this case, to uplift humanity and instill justice for all. This is heroic!

    As for Kaep”s kneeling and the revelation as of current that kneeling can be tolerated and in fact is a good thing, is nowhere near the single most contributor as to why viewing and attendance is down. But wouldn’t it be amazing if Kaep and his kneeling in protest of the destruction of black bodies was the very reason that collapsed the pro-sports industry. If only Colin Kaepernick could be remembered for this.

  19. Collins point of view was used as a weapon by a racist president to start a race war in this country wake up people and listen to yourselves this is prime example of what im about to say how is it disrespectful for a man to have his opinion on a matter like everyone else does to be judged and castrated about a problem that has been overlooked for decades now that there world has light shining upon it let take there attention off our world and put the focus back on there’s lets brainwash them into he is disrespecting on veterans and our country he should be punished for his out burst sounds familiar it does to me because nobody calls it disrespectful when you see a war vet on the side of a rode holding a sign ask for help nobody calling it disrespectful when they pay they duty but cant get medical to help with hospital bills loans to help finance there home and cars nobody call it disrespectful you have a president plan a terrorist attack on his on country to steal oil for there family gain it’s so much i can keep going on about but the main thing is do any of you people know Collin to speak on him they that you do have anyone of sat down and had a face to face 1 on 1 with this man to know he made his decision no you go off what tv tell you like everything else dont believe in everything you see and hear you are being controlled

  20. Collins point of view was used as a weapon by a racist president to start a race war in this country wake up people and listen to yourselves this is prime example of what im about to say how is it disrespectful for a man to have his opinion on a matter like everyone else does to be judged and castrated about a problem that has been overlooked for decades now that there world has light shining upon it let take there attention off our world and put the focus back on there’s lets brainwash them into he is disrespecting our veterans and our country he should be punished for his out burst sounds familiar it does to me because nobody calls it disrespectful when you see a war vet on the side of a rode holding a sign ask for help nobody calls it disrespectful when they pay they duty but cant get medical to help with hospital bills loans to help finance there home and cars nobody calls it disrespectful when you have a president plan a terrorist attack on his on country to steal oil for there family gain nobody calls it disrespectful when car runs thru a crowd of protesters a clans protest no nobody calls it disrespectful when a church full of elderly black people get shot up and the killer gets to enjoy damn burger king before is taken to jail it’s so much i can keep going on about but the main thing is do any of you people know Collin to speak on him the way that you do have anyone of sat down and had a face to face 1 on 1 with this man to know why he made his decision to kneel no you go off what tv tell you like everything else don’t believe in everything you see and hear you are being controlled

  21. Collins point of view was used as a weapon by a racist president to start a race war in this country wake up people and listen to yourselves this is prime example of what im about to say how is it disrespectful for a man to have his opinion on a matter like everyone else does to be judged and castrated about a problem that has been overlooked for decades now that there world has light shining upon it let take there attention off our world and put the focus back on there’s lets brainwash them into he is disrespecting our veterans and our country he should be punished for his out burst sounds familiar it does to me because nobody calls it disrespectful when you see a war vet on the side of a rode holding a sign asking for help nobody calls it disrespectful when they pay they duty but cant get medical to help with hospital bills loans to help finance there home and cars nobody calls it disrespectful when you have a president plan a terrorist attack on his on country to steal oil for there family gain nobody calls it disrespectful when a car runs thru a crowd of protesters at a clans protest no nobody calls it disrespectful when a church full of elderly black people get shot up and the killer gets to enjoy damn burger king before is taken to jail it’s so much i can keep going on about but the main thing is do any of you people know Collin to speak on him the way that you do have anyone of sat down and had a face to face 1 on 1 with this man to know why he made his decision to kneel no you go off what tv tell you like everything else don’t believe in everything you see and hear you are being controlled

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