Roger Goodell encourages NFL team to sign Colin Kaepernick

Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has a new public supporter: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

While taping a segment for ESPN's "Return to Sports" special that will air on Monday evening, Goodell told Mike Greenberg he is open to a team signing the 32-year-old signal-caller who hasn't played in the NFL since the 2016 campaign.

"Well, listen, if he wants to resume his career in the NFL, then obviously it's gonna take a team to make that decision," Goodell reportedly said. "But I welcome that, support a club making that decision, and encourage them to do that."

The killing of George Floyd, an unarmed African-American man who died while in Minneapolis police custody on May 25 after a white officer kneeled on Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes, sparked protests throughout the United States and around the world. Earlier this month, the NFL released a video where Goodell apologized and admitted he and the league were wrong for not listening to players earlier about racism and social justice issues.

Goodell didn't mention Kaepernick by name, though, which upset New Orleans Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins. Jenkins also said the NFL should apologize to Kaepernick and assign him to a team if he wants to play.

Recently, Chicago Bears defensive tackle Akiem Hicks suggested he believes the league blackballed Kaepernick after the '16 season because he kneeled during renditions of the anthem.

Kaepernick wouldn't be alone if he dropped to one knee while representing an NFL team this fall. Earlier on Monday, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that a "record-setting" number of players will kneel during the Star-Spangled Banner if there is a 2020 season amid the coronavirus pandemic: