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Kaepernick Accuses NFL of Blackballing Him, Goodell Denies

9/2/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Colin Kaepernick says the NFL is actively blackballing him.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell denied the blackballing claim, saying teams decide individually.
Kaepernick will publish his memoir *The Perilous Fight* on September 15, 2026.
He will receive the Muhammad Ali Center Humanitarian of the Year award on November 7, 2026.
Kaepernick has not watched an NFL game since 2016 and now watches college football.

History

Historical Context

In October 1968, American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised black-gloved fists on the Olympic podium, prompting IOC president Avery Brundage to expel them and sparking worldwide debate over athlete activism. Decades later, NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling protest during the national anthem has drawn similar criticism from league commissioner Roger Goodell, reviving the same clash between sports and civil-rights politics.

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Story summary

Colin Kaepernick says the NFL is actively blackballing him.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell denied the blackballing claim, saying teams decide individually.
Kaepernick will publish his memoir *The Perilous Fight* on September 15, 2026.
He will receive the Muhammad Ali Center Humanitarian of the Year award on November 7, 2026.
Kaepernick has not watched an NFL game since 2016 and now watches college football.

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