Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick stated on Monday that NFL owners kept him out of the league due to political motivations and power dynamics, suggesting their donations to the Trump administration played a role. Kaepernick, who began kneeling during the national anthem in 2016 to protest police brutality and racial inequality, appeared on the talk show "The View" to discuss his new book, "The Perilous Fight."
When asked by co-host Ana Navarro why no team signed him after he opted out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers in March 2017, Kaepernick responded, "I think it was political. I also think it was power." He added that the NFL's response to his protest was "very informative in relation to where they stand politically," pointing to the league's reported donations to President Donald Trump and his administration.
Kaepernick suggested that the NFL players, who constitute a significant portion of the league's audience, hold power. He argued that if players united and refused to play for even one weekend, it would disrupt the league's business and force swift changes. "There’s no game, there’s no business and things would change very quickly," he said.
Co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin asked Kaepernick if he was surprised by the backlash he received, which included death threats from those who felt he was disrespecting the flag, country, and military. Kaepernick responded, "Yes and no," explaining that his upbringing gave him some insight into the potential reactions. He also referenced historical instances of Black athletes facing backlash for their protests, citing figures like Tommie Smith and John Carlos, Muhammad Ali, Curt Flood, and Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf.
However, Kaepernick expressed surprise at the level of opposition to the core message of his protest, which he stated was about police not killing Black people. "I’m surprised at the level of pushback that people had on that, because we should all want to live in a society where everyone feels safe, everyone feels like they have the opportunity to thrive," he said. "I think that was very revealing in relation to where a lot of people stand and the work that we have to do."
Kaepernick has previously stated that the NFL was "actively blackballing" him and that he would no longer support the organization. He told NBC News earlier this month that he watches college football instead, citing the NFL's alleged targeting of players who have protested alongside him.