Colin Kaepernick Blames NFL Blackballing On Politics And Power After Anthem Protests

According to Breitbart, co-host Ana Navarro recounted how just six months after you started protesting, you say you were forced to opt out of your contract with the 49ers and you were never picked by another team again. She reminded viewers, You sued the NFL for collusion, claiming that team owners were intentionally keeping you out. They denied this, and it ended in a confidential agreement, though. So now as you look back, what do you think was the reason that not a single team would give you a chance to play for them?

Kaepernick responded, I think it was political. I also think it was power. I think the reality is one, I think its important context, I didnt protest the NFL, so their response to the protest is very informative in relation to where they stand politically. He then attempted to link the league to President Donald Trump, asserting, Weve seen them donate millions of dollars to Trump in this administration.

He further argued that public reaction to his protests and the leagues stance created pressure on team owners. And I think the other part is the realization that the amount of support the protest had. There were also boycotts of the NFL because of their response, Kaepernick said, framing fan backlash as leverage against the league.

Kaepernick also emphasized the racial makeup of the league as a potential source of collective power against ownership. The NFL being approximately 70% black also means that the players, as the product on the field, have power and control over where the league goes and where they head directionally. If players unify around that, because if players spent one weekend and said, were not going out there until you address this, theres no game, he argued, underscoring a labor-style pressure campaign that many conservatives view as politicizing sports rather than focusing on merit and competition.