Colin Kaepernick, a former NFL quarterback, criticized the Trump administration during an interview on The View. He accused the NFL of politically supporting the administration.
Colin, just six months after you started protesting, you say you were forced to opt out of your contract with the 49ers, and you were never picked by another team again.
During the interview, co-host Ana Navarro addressed Kaepernick’s lawsuit against the NFL, claiming collusion by team owners to keep him from playing. The NFL denied the allegations, and the case ended in a confidential settlement.
Reflecting on his situation, Kaepernick suggested that politics and power influenced the NFL’s decisions. He joined the show to discuss his new book, The Perilous Fight, which explores his career and his decision to kneel during the national anthem.
Kaepernick explained the political context, alleging the NFL donated significant amounts to President Trump and his administration. He noted that protests had substantial support, indicating player power in the league.
Sunny Hostin, another co-host, agreed with Kaepernick, as the audience supported his statements. Kaepernick emphasized that unified NFL player protests could halt games and business operations quickly.
The conversation touched on the backlash Kaepernick received after his protests. Co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin questioned him about the negative reaction, including death threats, faced for allegedly disrespecting the flag and military.
Kaepernick admitted to being both surprised and not by the backlash, citing historical protests by athletes such as Tommie Smith, John Carlos, Muhammad Ali, Curt Flood, and Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf.
Expressing his astonishment, Kaepernick discussed unexpected resistance to the idea that ‘police shouldn’t kill Black people,’ considering it a non-controversial issue. He hopes for a society where everyone feels safe and has the opportunity to prosper.
Fox News Digital attempted to contact the NFL and the White House for comments but received no immediate response.
Earlier discussions revealed Kaepernick’s belief that he was blackballed by the NFL after opting out of his contract in March 2017. He confirmed his refusal to support the organization during an NBC News interview.
According to Kaepernick, the NFL targeted fellow protesters, and he now watches college football instead.