Colin Kaepernick says he has ‘unfinished business’ in NFL, willing to return to league as backup QB

Colin Kaepernick remains to be understanding in hopes of getting again onto an NFL staff. 

He mentioned in a latest podcast interview he “completely” desires to play within the NFL once more and is even prepared to return to the league as a backup quarterback if that helps his comeback probabilities. 

“5 years of coaching behind the scenes,” Kaepernick advised former NFL stars Brandon Marshall, Chad Johnson, and Pacman Jones throughout an interview with the “I AM ATHLETE” podcast that aired Monday. “You do not try this if you do not have a ardour, and you do not consider you are gonna discover a approach on that area.”

“I do know I’ve to seek out my approach again in. So yeah. If I’ve to return in as a backup, that’s nice,” he mentioned. “However that’s not the place I’m staying. And once I show that I’m a starter, I need to have the ability to step on the sector as such. I simply want that chance to stroll by way of the door.”

Kaepernick final performed within the NFL in 2016, the identical yr he began kneeling through the nationwide anthem in protest of racial injustice. Requested why house owners and basic managers can buy that he would make their locker room higher and never be a distraction, Kaepernick argued that the league now pledges to help related points he advocated for prior to now. 

“You could have ‘Finish Racism’ at the back of your finish zone. You could have ‘Black Lives Matter’ in your helmet. Every thing I’ve mentioned needs to be in alignment with what you are saying publicly,” Kaepernick mentioned. “It is a $16 billion enterprise. Once I first took a knee, my jersey went to No. 1. Once I did the take care of Nike, their worth elevated by $6 billion. Six billion. With a B.”

Colin Kaepernick #7 and Eric Reid #35 of the San Francisco 49ers kneel on the sideline through the Nationwide Anthem previous to the sport towards the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium on Oct. 2, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. 
(Photograph by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Pictures)

“So in case you’re speaking in regards to the enterprise facet, it exhibits helpful. When you’re speaking in regards to the taking part in facet, are available, [and] let me compete. You’ll be able to consider me from there,” he added. “The NFL is meant to be a meritocracy. Are available in, let me compete. If I am not ok, do away with me. However let me are available and present you.”

COLIN KAEPERNICK SHARES MESSAGE TO NFL TEAMS AFTER MICHIGAN SPRING GAME: ‘I CAN HELP MAKE YOU A BETTER TEAM’

This month, Kaepernick reunited with Jim Harbaugh at Michigan’s spring sport, the place he was invited to take part in a throwing audition for NFL scouts. The quarterback reportedly ran a variety of throwing drills throughout a 15-minute session with draft-eligible gamers at halftime. 

On the podcast Monday, Kaepernick famous that Harbaugh and Chip Kelly, his former coaches with the San Francisco 49ers, mentioned he “made the locker room higher.”

“That 2016 season, my final yr, my teammates voted me essentially the most brave and inspirational participant. So, once you’re speaking in regards to the folks which can be really within the constructing, that has by no means come out that I have been a distraction. It is by no means come out that I have been a difficulty for the folks I’ve performed with,” he mentioned.

The 34-year-old quarterback mentioned he stored quiet on his want to play within the NFL once more as a result of he did not wish to be a distraction for groups. He mentioned not a single staff hosted him for a possibility since his departure from the 49ers. 

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) seems for a receiver through the second quarter of the staff’s NFC divisional playoff NFL soccer sport towards the Inexperienced Bay Packers in San Francisco, Jan. 12, 2013. 
(AP Photograph/Tony Avelar, File)

“No groups introduced me in for a exercise,” Kaepernick mentioned. “No staff has introduced me in for a possibility. I had the one assembly with Seattle in 2017. And out of that, [head coach] Pete Carroll mentioned, ‘Hey, he is a starter; now we have a starter.’ And issues moved on from there, however they do not have a starter proper now.”

Kaepernick threw for 12,271 yards and 72 touchdowns over six seasons with San Francisco. He was the beginning quarterback in Tremendous Bowl XLVII, which the 49ers misplaced to the Baltimore Ravens. 

“I have been to the Tremendous Bowl,” Kaepernick mentioned, noting he was one play away from an NFL championship. “I want to complete that.”