The recent protests have reignited the conversation surrounding Colin Kaepernick and why he remains out of the NFL. Hue Jackson, a former head coach for the Cleveland Browns, revealed that he wanted to sign Kaepernick.
On Friday, Jackson went on “The Really Big Show” on ESPN Cleveland to confess his prior interest in the former NFL QB:
“I wanted him,” Jackson said of Kaepernick. “I don’t know how close it was, but it wasn’t nixed from the beginning.”
Back in 2016, Kaepernick began speaking out on police brutality and racial injustices occurring within our society. As a result, he began to sit during the National Anthem before games. Then, after speaking to Nate Boyer — a former Green Beret in the military — the quarterback chose to kneel instead.
It is believed that Kaepernick's decision to peacefully protest led to his demise in the NFL. Despite being blackballed by the NFL, Jackson thinks everyone realizes that he was right the entire time.
Hue Jackson on wanting @Kaepernick7 : "I think now everybody is seeing exactly what he was telling people."
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) June 5, 2020
According to Jackson, he expressed his interest to the Browns in signing Kaepernick in 2017. Rather than signing him, Cleveland chose to select Deshone Kizer with the No. 52 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. That season, the Browns proceeded to finish with a putrid 0-16 record.
Provided that, there's no doubt that signing Kaepernick would've been better than deploying Kizer in 2017. Nevertheless, Kaepernick has been unemployed since 2016 and it doesn't appear that he'll get another chance to play in the NFL. With that being said, it's been long overdue for him to receive a second chance in the league.
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