Colin Kaepernick says he hasn't seen 'substantial change' in the NFL since his playing days

Colin Kaepernick’s face has become the poster when it comes to a desire for change from professional sports leagues, specifically in the NFL. However, the former 49ers QB doesn’t feel as though his messages have done enough at the end of the day.

Kaepernick expressed his frustration in an interview with Juana Summers on NPR this week. He admits that he doesn’t feel as though ‘substantial change’ has come from his efforts. His evidence of that is his employment status remaining the same since he last played in the league in 2016.

“I haven’t seen any substantial change. I think there is a lot of work to do on that front,” said Kaepernick. “Obviously, not playing and being out of the NFL for six years is an indictment on where they are currently at. So I wouldn’t put them at the forefront of goodwill and best of intentions in how they operate.”

Still, Kaepernick responded with ‘no’ when Summers asked if the lack of movement on that front causes regret for taking the social justice stances that the public now knows him for. He said he wanted to take that opportunity to show that he was more than an athlete. Because of that, he’s still very content with that decision even though it has cost him a large chunk of what could have been his NFL career.

“I think there’s this idea out there that those are mutually exclusive, and I don’t subscribe to that. I think people are multifaceted and multitalented. And ultimately, that’s something that – we want to make sure that message is being sent as well,” Kaepernick said. “We have the opportunity to move forward and not be pigeonholed into singular elements of ourselves.”

Over six seasons with San Francisco, Kaepernick accumulated just under 15,000 yards when combining passing and rushing. He also accounted for 72 touchdowns through the air and 13 more on the ground.

In the end, though, his choice to kneel for the national anthem has become far more memorable. It has been way more of a national talking point than his career between the lines. However, even though it hasn’t led to what he has truly wanted, Kaepernick still maintains that he wouldn’t have had it any other way.