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NFL: 30 of the biggest what-ifs in NFL history

By Hans Themistode

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - AUGUST 24: Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts on the sidelines during the preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 24, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - AUGUST 24: Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts on the sidelines during the preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 24, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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Colin Kaepernick
Colin Kaepernick (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images) /

NFL: 30 of the biggest what-ifs in NFL history: 13. Colin Kaepernick doesn’t get blackballed

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick went from the face of the San Francisco 49ers franchise, to being blackballed from the league.

Taken in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft, Kaepernick was viewed as a future option. Yet, with Alex Smith on the sidelines in mid-2012 due to a concussion, Kaepernick was forced to play a bit earlier than many were expecting. The task was a simple one, just don’t mess up and hit the bench once Smith got back. With that said, Kaepernick played out of his mind.

The second-year quarterback showed off a rocket arm and incredible legs. His dual-threat play pushed the 49ers to the Super Bowl although they would ultimately lose to the Baltimore Ravens. Another stellar year saw the 49ers come within one game of making the Super Bowl again.

At this point, Kaepernick was finding his name mentioned as possibly the greatest quarterback of all time, seriously. After a few years of solid overall play, his future was as bright as anyone’s. That is, until he made a seemingly innocent gesture that changed everything.

During the preseason finale in 2016, both Kaepernick and teammate, defensive back Eric Reid, took a knee during the National Anthem. Originally, Kaepernick opted to sit during the anthem until he spoke to someone with ties to the army and was told that kneeling would be more respectful. The reason why Kaepernick was kneeling was simple, he was attempting to bring more awareness to police brutality and racial inequality. While his reasons were admirable, the NFL, by and large, viewed him as a threat.

Since then, Kaepernick has attempted to make an NFL roster but unsurprisingly, can’t even get an invite to an office. Although he was never going to develop into the best player in the league, Kaepernick was a star in the making. Both he and the 49ers had the blueprint to become consistent Super Bowl threats. Could he have molded his career into a Hall of Fame worthy one? Maybe, but that’s a question we’ll never get the answer to, all because he took a knee for what he believed in.

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