While speaking with ESPN Monday night, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said that he is encouraging teams to sign Colin Kaepernick, who has not played in an NFL game since 2016.
During ESPN’s SportsCenter Special Monday evening, Goodell said that he welcomes Kaepernick’s opinions regarding social issues. “Well, listen, if he wants to resume his career in the NFL, then obviously it’s going to take a team to make that decision. But I welcome that, support a club making that decision and encourage them to do that. If his efforts are not on the field but continuing to work in this space, we welcome him to that table and to help us, guide us, help us make better decisions about the kinds of things that need to be done in the communities. We have invited him in before, and we want to make sure that everybody’s welcome at that table and trying to help us deal with some very complex, difficult issues that have been around for a long time. But I hope we’re at a point now where everybody’s committed to making long-term, sustainable change.”
With Kaepernick not being on an NFL roster in almost four years, a lot of the blame had gone to Goodell, as it was speculated that he and the NFL owners had essentially ostracized the 32-year old Kaepernick from the league for kneeling during the national anthem and speaking out regarding various social issues. During Monday’s conversation, Goodell praised Kaepernick as well as other NFL players who have spoken out on social issues in recent weeks. “What they were talking about and what they were protesting and what they were trying to bring attention to was playing out right in front of us – and tragically,” he said. “And so all of us saw that, and it was difficult for all of us. And so that was an important point for all of us.”
Goodell and the NFL announced last week that they would be pledging $250 million over the next ten years to help combat systemic racism.
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