Football fans everywhere inhaled sharply when the previously unassailable Aaron Rodgers found himself on the wrong end of a sack during a New York Jets’ Monday night game. As Rodgers’ foot contorted in ways no human foot should, the weight of crushed dreams seemed to echo throughout the stadium. Fans and officials alike were left to wonder: would the Jets’ recent moves to bolster their Super Bowl dreams now crumble like Rodgers’ Achilles tendon?
Cue the unexpected: just as the dust was settling, Colin Kaepernick, former San Francisco 49ers quarterback and now more famous for his sideline activism than his on-field tactics, came out of the woodwork. With the ink not even dry on the medical reports confirming Rodgers’ season-ending injury, whispers began circulating that Kaepernick’s agent had reached out to the New York Jets. The offer? To assist the beleaguered team in their hour of need.
For those not up-to-date on their NFL history, Kaepernick hasn’t exactly been the league’s darling for a while. His last rendezvous with an NFL ball was back in 2016. And while many might remember it, it wasn’t for the reasons an aspiring quarterback might hope.
His time with the 49ers was – to put it mildly – tumultuous. Despite media narratives suggesting he was sidelined for his political stances, the reality is Kaepernick was offered a post-season contract by the 49ers, which he turned down.
Since then, the former quarterback has sported several hats – from partnering with Nike (a brand notorious for its controversial labor practices in Pacific Rim nations) to producing documentaries that liken the NFL Draft to, of all things, slave auctions.
One might think he was busy, but Kaepernick still found time to decline offers from the Canadian Football League and the fledgling Alliance of American Football. When the NFL did give him another shot, offering a workout session in 2019 with all 32 teams invited, Kaepernick shifted gears and moved the location at the last minute.
So, with this history, you could practically hear the record scratch when Kaepernick’s agent hinted at his client’s desire to return, especially for the Jets. As NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported, Kaepernick was eagerly working out on the West Coast, ever hopeful for that NFL callback.
But the Jets, despite being in a vulnerable state, were not biting. NFL guru Josina Anderson conveyed the Jets’ sentiment aptly, noting the team was more interested in a quarterback that vibes with their current QB, Zach Wilson, and understands the system or staff. Chemistry, after all, is critical. They weren’t looking for headline-making stunts but rather a consistent and reliable player to fit into the team seamlessly.
The candid truth is that 2013 Kaepernick was a force to be reckoned with, a dynamic player who had the football world at his feet. But this is 2023. The football landscape has changed. Strategies have evolved. Quarterbacks in their late 30s face a different set of challenges, and Kaepernick’s playstyle, leaning heavily on agility and footwork, is a risky bet for a team already reeling from a critical injury.
It’s a narrative we’ve seen time and time again. An NFL injury sparks the Kaepernick comeback speculation, igniting social media platforms and drawing reactions from both supporters and critics. But beneath the noise, the teams have their considerations, their strategies, and their goals. For the Jets, that doesn’t include a Kaepernick headline.
As fans brace for a new chapter in Jets history, one thing is clear: the Jets are in it for the love of the game, not the game of publicity. They have a season to save, strategies to redraw, and a Super Bowl dream that, while dented, is not dead. As for Kaepernick, the journey continues. The question is, what hat will he wear next?
