NFL players, coaches, front-office staff, and owners became a part of the United States’ referendum on policing and racism this offseason. The social movement reinvigorated by the police homicides of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor forced many around the country to at least feign concern for institutional racism.
Few were under more pressure than the NFL.
Many rightfully connected the social uproar to former SF 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s national anthem protest, which called attention to police brutality. Following the 2016 season, Kaepernick became a free agent and remains unsigned.
It has now been over three seasons since he last played on an NFL roster.