This week, the NFL redesigned its website and in the process designated former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick as “retired” on his player page.
Kaepernick’s girlfriend, the radio and TV personality Nessa, took notice and mentioned the league in an angry tweet on Friday. On Saturday morning, the league updated Kaep’s page to show he is a "UFA" (unrestricted free agent).
Kaepernick did not retire from professional football, but it’s hard to see him getting another opportunity in the NFL. The quarterback turns 33 in November and hasn’t played in more than three years — his last live snap was on Jan. 1, 2017.
Late last year, the league organized an open workout for Kaepernick, which took the entire football world by surprise. The planned audition caught Kaepernick off guard, too — they didn’t give much notice to the longtime 49ers star, and he responded by no-showing at the showcase at the Falcons’ facility and holding his own personal workout at a different location in Georgia.
The NFL’s original workout reportedly would have seen executives from 25 teams in attendance. At the new location, attendance was sparse.
Afterward, Kaepernick’s camp sent footage of the workout to all 32 teams. There were no bites, and it’s hard to imagine that his chances of landing a deal have improved.
Still, Kaepernick says he wants to return to the NFL.
“My desire to play football is still there,” Kaepernick said in February. “I still train five days a week. I’m ready to go, I’m ready for a phone call, tryout, workout at any point in time. I’m still waiting on the owners and their partners to stop running from this situation. So I hope I get a call this offseason. I’ll be looking forward to it.”
In the meantime, Kaepernick says he will continue his initiatives for social justice. Later this year, he’ll release a memoir in conjunction with Audible.
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