Colin Kaepernick Relevant to Super Bowl LX Discussion
Colin Kaepernick, the former quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, has been highlighted as a significant figure in the conversation surrounding Super Bowl LX, even though his team won’t be competing and he hasn’t been part of the football scene for nearly ten years.
An article notes Kaepernick as “the most relevant” person related to this year’s Super Bowl. Adam Kilgore describes the game as taking place in the stadium where Kaepernick’s protests made waves, turning him into a notable national and global symbol. It’s interesting, I think, how social issues linked to his actions still linger—yet Kaepernick seems largely absent from NFL discussions today.
The piece dives into Kaepernick’s career starting from his kneeling protests that sparked debates about social injustice, and it also raises questions about his perspective amid the current tensions around immigration policy and recent incidents involving federal agents.
Despite the widespread interest in Kaepernick’s protests, the article barely touched on his comments since leaving the game. It mentioned a few of his collaborative projects, like a documentary with Spike Lee, but offered little insight into his thoughts during this time.
Kaepernick had previously settled a lawsuit with the NFL, claiming they effectively sidelined him from signing with any new team following the 2017 season. He did have a sanctioned tryout, but that was abruptly canceled, leading to a less formal opportunity to showcase his skills.
In 2020, he wrote an essay on Medium calling for the abolishment of police and prisons, while a year later, his book echoed similar themes, pushing for a society “free of and beyond police and prisons.” There was even a Netflix documentary in which he drew parallels between the NFL Draft and slavery, illustrating the power dynamics at play. “Before we put you on the field,” he noted, “teams inspect you for any flaws that could impact performance.”
Kaepernick remains adamant about preparing for another opportunity in the NFL, as he approaches his 39th birthday later this year.
