Colin Kaepernick, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback, stated in a recent interview with NBC News that he believes the National Football League is "actively blackballing" him and that he chooses to watch college football instead of the NFL.
Kaepernick, 38, has not played in the league since the final game of the 2016 season. His absence from the NFL began after he started kneeling during the national anthem to protest social injustices.
"I’m not gonna support an organization that one, is actively blackballing me, but two, has targeted my brothers who have been protesting as part of this as well," Kaepernick said.
He and former teammate Eric Reid, who joined Kaepernick in his protests, filed a lawsuit against the NFL, alleging collusion. The league and the players reached a settlement in early 2019.
During his hiatus from professional football, Kaepernick has focused on his "Know Your Rights" camps, which aim to educate young people. His foundation also provides support for independent autopsies, including a recent case involving Mississippi teenager Nolan Wells.
When asked about his legacy, Kaepernick indicated it is not his primary concern. "What I think about is what are the areas that I can do work that I think are going to have an impact and help us move towards that future together," he told NBC News. "At the end of the day, people will decide what that legacy is, and hopefully that’s a positive one."