{
  "id": 4887007,
  "title": "Colin Kaepernick won't support NFL, says league is 'actively blackballing me' and others who protested",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/colin-kaepernick-wont-support-nfl-says-league-is-actively",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-01T15:57:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/article/colin-kaepernick-wont-support-nfl-says-league-is-actively-blackballing-me-and-others-who-protested-155736084.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In an interview with NBC News, former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick revealed he hasn't viewed an NFL game since his exclusion from the league following the 2016 season. He expressed his belief that the league continues to \"blackball\" him and target others who protested alongside him. \"I'm not gonna support an organization that one, is actively blackballing me, but two, has targeted my brothers who have been protesting as part of this as well,\" Kaepernick stated. The interview also shed light on the origin of his protest, which was suggested by teammate Eric Reid. Kaepernick emphasized that his decision to kneel was meant to highlight racial violence, not to anger the military. Despite facing significant backlash, Kaepernick continued to advocate for change, even filing a grievance alleging collusion within the NFL to keep him out of the league. He eventually settled with the league in 2019.",
  "summary": "Colin Kaepernick still watches football, just not the NFL.",
  "key_points": [
    "Colin Kaepernick won't support NFL, claims league blackballs him",
    "Protester's protest aimed at raising awareness of racial violence",
    "Kaepernick filed grievance alleging collusion, later settled with NFL"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}