It's been nearly four years since Colin Kaepernick, former San Francisco 49ers quarterback, has played a game of American football. Back in the 2016 season, Kaepernick became a global sporting icon when he decided to kneel during the American national anthem to protest racial discrimination in the United States. Kaepernick's protest was deeply controversial in America and he has been curiously unemployed after making his stance despite a clear shortage of talented quarterbacks in the NFL.
Kaepernick has said repeatedly over past three years that he is ready and waiting to make a return to the NFL, if only he'd be given a chance. Unfortunately it seemed like there was no team willing to employ him.
Last night, the NFL confirmed it will hold a private workout for Kaepernick this Saturday evening in Atlanta. The workout will be open to all 32 NFL franchises. In theory, it could open the door to Kaepernick's return to the NFL.
Kaepernick confirmed on Twitter that he will attend the workout and that he is in shape.
I’m just getting word from my representatives that the NFL league office reached out to them about a workout in Atlanta on Saturday. I’ve been in shape and ready for this for 3 years, can’t wait to see the head coaches and GMs on Saturday.
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) November 13, 2019
As Colin Kaepernick tweeted, the NFL didn't inform his reps of Saturday's workout in Atlanta until this morning. Kaepernick's reps asked for workout to be on a Tuesday, the day of most workouts, but NFL said it had to be this Saturday. He asked for a later Saturday; NFL said no.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 13, 2019
Kaepernick is 32 and hasn't played a snap of football in three years, so the odds do seem stacked against him here. However, there is a noticeable shortage of quarterback talent in the NFL at the moment, as recent injuries to QB's Ben Roethlisberger, Cam Newton and Matthew Stafford have exposed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOiEIuOgySc
Interestingly, US soccer player/activist Megan Rapinoe gave Kaepernick a special mention to Kaep when she accepted the award of Woman Of The Year last night from Glamour maganise last night.
Megan Rapinoe minced no words about Colin Kaepernick at Glamour's women of the year awards Monday: https://t.co/9SgoSPFqV8 pic.twitter.com/tJmIHdmXJt
— Rachel Bachman (@Bachscore) November 12, 2019
Kaepernick and former teammate and anthem protestor Eric Reid settled a grievance against the NFL last February.
