Once upon a time, a Japanese imperial officer clung to his post, valiantly fighting World War II for nearly 30 years after Japan had surrendered. Fast forward to the present, and while former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick has not yet reached that record of delusion, he seems determined to make a comparable attempt.
Kaepernick’s girlfriend, radio host Nessa Diab, practically confirmed his Sisyphean quest in a recent interview with TMZ Sports.
When approached on the bustling streets of New York City, she was asked if Kaepernick is still training for an NFL comeback.
“All day, every day,” Diab replied enthusiastically. “Nothing has changed.”
TMZ followed up with a pointed question: “Is he still wanting to play [in the NFL]?”
“Of course he is,” Diab asserted. “It’s all up to the teams [and] if they’ll let him.”
While I would never dream of contradicting the mother of Kaepernick’s child, I must argue that the NFL teams’ decision-making process isn’t quite so straightforward.
The NFL prides itself on being a meritocracy—though one could argue that this principle has its flaws, especially when considering the number of players with dubious backgrounds who remain in the league. Moreover, one cannot simply blame the political climate; even President Donald Trump has openly stated that Kaepernick should play if he “deserves it.”
Ultimately, as Trump pointed out, the responsibility lies with Kaepernick himself (now 37, soon to be 38), and whether he still possesses the skills to compete at an NFL level.
Unfortunately, the evidence suggests he does not. The last time we witnessed Kaepernick in action was in the 2016 season, when, at just 29, he was benched in favor of journeyman Blaine Gabbert on a woeful 2-14 San Francisco 49ers team.
That final season saw Kaepernick achieve respectable backup quarterback stats—16 touchdowns to just 4 interceptions. Yet, these numbers were undercut by a less-than-stellar 59.2 percent completion rate. In today’s NFL, even average quarterbacks are expected to complete at least 60 percent of their passes, with proficient quarterbacks averaging in the mid-60s and elite ones nearing 70 percent.
If this underwhelming performance from nearly eight years ago is Kaepernick’s last significant contribution to the league, it’s worth questioning what any NFL team, particularly one desperate for a quarterback, might expect from a player who has been out of the game for so long.
Training “all day, every day” won’t rewind the clock, and in 2025, what incentive would an NFL franchise have to sign a subpar backup quarterback? There are plenty of those available—many of whom come without the baggage, notoriety, or the media frenzy Kaepernick would undoubtedly attract (as evidenced by the above TMZ video).
To be clear, if Kaepernick were indeed the second coming of Tom Brady, he would likely have already found his way back into the NFL, irrespective of the controversial protest movement he initiated by kneeling during “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
But alas, Kaepernick is not Brady, and there is little reason to believe he has improved during his lengthy absence from the gridiron (his last game was January 1, 2017).
It’s time to reconsider this “comeback” narrative; it was already disheartening three years ago and has only become more pathetic since.
Having your girlfriend speak on your behalf when your age, physical condition, and declining skills suggest otherwise isn’t doing Kaepernick’s already diminished reputation any favors.
This article originally appeared on The Western Journal.
