Goodell: 'Wish we had listened earlier' to Kaepernick

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell regrets how the league handled the Colin Kaepernick situation. Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Roger Goodell: 'Wish we had listened earlier' to Colin Kaepernick's message

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 8/24/20

Colin Kaepernick was ousted from the NFL for starting a revolution surrounding kneeling during the national anthem to bring racial justice issues to light, and now Roger Goodell is opening up about how he feels about the situation.

The NFL commissioner was on former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho's video series "Uncomfortable Conversations With a Black Man," and admitted he wishes the league "had listened earlier" to Kaepernick's message.

Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man: The National Anthem Protest- PT. 1

NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell, & I discuss Colin Kaepernick & the protests during the national anthem that polarized America. pic.twitter.com/PcL02732ys
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) August 23, 2020

Kaepernick hasn't been on an NFL roster since the conclusion of the 2016 campaign, but Goodell has encouraged teams to sign the 32-year-old in recent months.

The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback is said to be "more motivated to play than ever" in the NFL, and it comes after Goodell condemned racism and finally promoted peaceful protesting of racial injustice.

Kaepernick did attempt a comeback earlier this year with a workout in Atlanta, but it resulted in no offers being made to the quarterback. His desire to return to the NFL spurs from the racial injustice protests following the death of George Floyd, and Kaepernick likely wants to be a leader in change around the league.

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