Activist and former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, most famous for kneeling during the pregame national anthem and starting a movement, has been invited to a one-man private scouting workout on Saturday in Atlanta.
Kaepernick tweeted at 7:45 p.m. on Tuesday, “I’m just getting word from my representatives that the NFL league office reached out to them about a workout in Atlanta on Saturday. I’ve been in shape and ready for this for 3 years, can’t wait to see the head coaches and GMs on Saturday.”
The announcement prompted an outpouring of excitement, joy and disbelief on social media.
“The People coming together to uplift and support our brother Colin Kaepernick,” one Twitter user responded.
“You are ready. We are ready to have you back. You got this, brotha,” another tweeted.
The workout session will include an interview. All 32 clubs were invited to attend and a video of the workout and interview will be made available to all clubs, ESPN reported.
Kaepernick has not played for the NFL since the season ended in 2016, after he started kneeling to protest racial injustice and police brutality while playing for the San Francisco 49ers.
He and 49ers teammate Eric Reid accused the league of blackballing them. They alleged collusion among team owners to deny jobs to both players. The NFL paid less than $10 million to settle the collusion grievances filed by Kaepernick and Reid, Wall Street Journal reported.
League represenatives will be attending the Saturday workout including Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, and Atlanta Falcons, ESPN reported. The workout is closed to the media. The Chicago Bears may be the most obvious landing spot for Kaepernick, Jordan Dajani wrote for CBS Sports.
Detroit Lions coach Matt Patricia said the team would be at the workout for Kaepernick in Atlanta, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
“If Kaepernick returns, that team will probably become Black America’s favorite and anyone who sacks him will probably get their ass kicked by my Aunt Joyce,” Michael Harriot wrote for The Root.
Kaepernick’s activism landed him on the cover of GQ as 2017 Citizen Of The Year. A University of California, Berkeley professor said Kaepernick deserved a Nobel Peace Prize nomination. Kaepernick also attracted vicious tweets from President Trump, who described him and other NFL players who kneeled as “sons of bitches”.
Kaepernick made headlines again more recently when he wasn’t included in a so-called “social justice” partnership between Jay-Z and the NFL involving entertainment and apparel. Some members of the public took sides on social media, criticizing Kaepernick’s omission.
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In October, Kaepernick’s representatives said that he has been “working out five days a week, for three years, in preparation to play again” but hasn’t had the opportunity.
Kaepernick tweeted a pre-season video of himself, saying ” 5am. 5 days a week. For 3 years. Still Ready.”
