Key Highlights:
- Colin Kaepernick revisited his 2016 protests during a Dallas appearance for his memoir, directly addressing critics including Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
- The former NFL quarterback questioned why opponents were comfortable pushing back against demonstrations highlighting racial injustice and police violence.
- Kaepernick’s remarks shifted public attention back to past league tensions shortly after the Dallas Cowboys secured a 34-30 victory over the Houston Texans.
The Dallas Cowboys had barely moved on from an emotional 34-30 win over the Houston Texans when owner Jerry Jones found himself pulled back into one of the leagueās most enduring controversies. Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick appeared in Dallas for an author event tied to his memoir, The Perilous Fight, and was asked what he would say now to Jerry Jones and others who opposed his protest during the 2016 season.
Colin Kaepernick did not hesitate to reiterate his perspective on the resistance he encountered from league figures nearly a decade ago. āItās the same thing that Iāve said in the past, which is, why are you so comfortable working against black folks trying to live?ā
Kaepernick said. āPeople revealed who they were.ā
His remarks brought Jerry Jonesā stance from that period back into focus just as Dallas was trying to build momentum on the field.
The Origins of Kaepernick’s Anthem Demonstrations
Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during the national anthem in 2016 as a protest against racial injustice and police violence involving black Americans. Addressing attendees during his stop in Dallas, he underlined the central reason that sparked his demonstrations. āWe were fighting specifically against police killing black folks,ā
he said in Dallas. āItās amazing to me that thereās anybody thatās like, āIām against that.āā
At the time, Jerry Jones was one of the NFLās most prominent critics of anthem demonstrations, vocalizing concerns regarding how the protests impacted the league’s public standing and brand. āThere is no question the league is suffering negative effects from these protests,ā
Jones said in 2017. The Dallas Cowboys owner argued that the NFL needed to protect the strength of the league and avoid allowing protests to overshadow football. Kaepernick, however, has always maintained that the issue went beyond the sport itself. Explaining his original stance nearly ten years ago, he stated: āI am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,ā
he said in 2016. āTo me, this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way.ā
Postgame Momentum Interrupted in Dallas
The timing made Colin Kaepernickās comments especially awkward for Jerry Jones. Dallas had just completed a dramatic comeback victory, with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb helping the Cowboys secure a result that gave the franchise something positive to build on. Rather than maintaining clear focus on the on-field achievement and preparation for future matchups, the public conversation around Jones quickly returned to an issue he had hoped was long behind him.
Although Colin Kaepernick hasn’t played an NFL snap since the 2016 season, he has remained active in social justice causes and continues to speak about the circumstances surrounding his departure from the league. While promoting his new book, he touched on the sustained public curiosity regarding his choices and the subsequent fallout. āIāve gotten so many questions about why did I protest, what happened, what led up to it, the details behind the scenes of all of the moments,ā
Kaepernick told TIME while discussing his memoir.
Why This Matters
A decade after his protest began, Colin Kaepernick is still pressing the same questions, and Jerry Jones remains one of the most recognizable figures connected to the NFLās response. The persistence of the dialogue highlights how deeply the intersection of athletics, race, and social commentary remains embedded in professional sports culture. Even as teams like the Dallas Cowboys work to focus solely on game outcomes and playoff positioning, the unresolved questions regarding Kaepernickās departure from professional football continue to surface whenever key figures from that period intersect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Colin Kaepernick in Dallas?
Colin Kaepernick was in Dallas for an author event promoting his memoir, The Perilous Fight, during which he was asked about his 2016 protests and critics such as Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
What was Jerry Jones’ historical stance on national anthem protests?
During the peak of the demonstrations in 2017, Jerry Jones voiced strong opposition, stating that the league was facing negative consequences and arguing that football should not be overshadowed by anthem protests.
When did Colin Kaepernick last play in the NFL?
Colin Kaepernick has not played a snap in the NFL since the conclusion of the 2016 season with the San Francisco 49ers.
