Colin Kaepernick, the NFL player who ignited a national debate with his protests during the national anthem, has accused the NFL Players Coalition of betraying the movement and undermining the efforts of players protesting police brutality and racial injustice.
In a recent interview with The New Yorker's David Remnick, Kaepernick, now 38 and a free agent, stated that the Players Coalition, co-founded by former NFL stars Malcolm Jenkins and Anquan Boldin, attempted to "sell out" the protests. He believes the organization was a league-backed effort to co-opt and diminish the player-led demonstrations.
"There were players in the NFL that joined forces with the NFL, in the Players Coalition," Kaepernick told Remnick. "Those were efforts that were led by Malcolm Jenkins and Anquan Boldin, and sold the protest out, or attempted to."
Kaepernick, who has not played in the NFL since the 2016 season, initiated his protests by kneeling during the national anthem to bring attention to systemic issues of police killings of Black individuals. He noted that while some prominent players, including Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady, offered support for him not being "blackballed" from the league, their support did not extend to the core issues of police brutality.
"Around the topic of police killing Black folks and trying to address the systemic issues? Very limited," Kaepernick said regarding the broader support from white players. He also recounted instances where players were told by team owners that they were prohibited from protesting.
Kaepernick did acknowledge support from some teammates and fellow players, specifically naming Eric Reid, Kenny Stills, and Albert Wilson. The protests he started continued after his departure from the San Francisco 49ers in 2017, eventually fading around 2021.
The NFL has denied blackballing Kaepernick and Reid, who both settled collusion claims with the league in 2019. Kaepernick has since undergone tryouts with NFL teams but has not been signed. He stated he refuses to watch the NFL, citing the league's alleged continued "blackballing" of him and other protesting players, and instead watches college football.
The Players Coalition, which still exists, experienced internal divisions early on when players like Reid, Michael Thomas, and Russell Okung departed due to disagreements. The Daily Mail has reached out to Jenkins and Boldin for comment.