Kaepernick Says NFL Blackballing Him, Continues Boycott

Nearly a decade after his national anthem protest sparked a nationwide debate, former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick says he no longer watches the NFL, accusing the league of "actively blackballing" him and others who protested racial injustice. In a series of interviews promoting his upcoming memoir, the 38-year-old outlined his continued boycott and defended the demonstration that effectively ended his playing career. Kaepernick told NBC News he has not watched an NFL game since 2016. "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," he said. "I watch college football." He maintains that his exit from the league was not a choice but a consequence of his activism, stating that after his protest, no team would sign him despite his previous success, including leading the 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance. The quarterback first sat and then knelt during the national anthem in 2016 to protest police brutality and racial inequality. He has consistently said he has no regrets.