Colin Kaepernick hasn’t given up on his NFL dream.
Nearly a decade after his last professional snap, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback is still pushing for a comeback. According to his longtime partner, Nessa Diab, Kaepernick remains all-in on his training, staying ready in case an opportunity arises.
“All day, every day,” Diab told TMZ Sports when asked about his preparation. “Nothing has changed. Nothing.”
Kaepernick last played in an NFL game on January 1, 2017. Over the course of that 2016 season, he threw for 16 touchdowns against just four interceptions, though the 49ers struggled mightily, going 1-10 in his 11 starts. At the time, he was 29 years old — still in his athletic prime — and not far removed from leading San Francisco to a Super Bowl appearance.
Kaepernick’s departure from the league became one of the most discussed stories in sports, with the quarterback maintaining that his protest during the national anthem against racial injustice led to teams blackballing him.
Despite the long layoff — more than eight years since his last competitive snap — Kaepernick continues to prepare for a return. His hope remains that a team will make the call and give him another shot.
There had been some speculation about potential opportunities outside of playing. Jim Harbaugh, now head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers and Kaepernick’s former coach in San Francisco, reportedly discussed the idea of Kaepernick joining his coaching staff for the 2024 season. However, nothing materialized from those conversations.
As things stand, Kaepernick has not received a contract offer, and no NFL team has made a public move to bring him in. For now, the league continues forward without him — but Kaepernick’s commitment to staying ready remains unwavering.
