Colin Kaepernick says NFL is 'actively blackballing me' 10 years after kneeling protest began

Key Points:

• Ten years ago, Colin Kaepernick and teammate Eric Reid kneeled during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality, sparking widespread controversy and making Kaepernick a divisive sports figure.
• Kaepernick has not played in the NFL since 2017, alleging that the league blackballed him due to his protests, a claim the NFL denies despite ongoing debate and a collusion grievance settlement in 2019.
• Despite multiple workouts arranged by teams and the NFL, including a notable 2019 self-organized workout attended by seven teams, Kaepernick has not been signed by any NFL team.
• Kaepernick continues to criticize the NFL for insufficient progress on social justice issues, arguing that despite donations and initiatives like the Inspire Change fund and Rooney Rule expansion, the league has reverted to "business as usual."
• At age 38, Kaepernick remains active in training and advocacy, and he is set to receive the Muhammad Ali Center’s Humanitarian of the Year Award in recognition of his work against racial injustice.