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Colin Kaepernick is currently a free-agent quarterback who hasn't stepped onto an NFL field since the 2016-17 season. However, there was an opportunity for Kaepernick to play football again back in 2019.
The AAF (Alliance of American Football) was a football league where he could've made his return to the sport. There was one catch: he reportedly sought a salary of $20 million to play in the AAF.
Since the leaker of that salary amount was anonymous, there's reason to assume that the leak came from within the AAF. Evidently, both sides had a less-than-productive conversation when it came to the numbers.
Ultimately, Kaepernick and his representatives didn't reach a deal as the former quarterback felt he could play in the NFL. It was also because he felt there were better chances to restart his football career.
For example, if Kaepernick wanted to play football again, he could have taken his talents to the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League (CFL). If Kaepernick rejected the chance to play in the CFL, why would he play for a league that may have problems making payroll?
Without question, Colin Kaepernick would have been the most well-known name in the AAF. He would have been a player to draw in a massive audience and a huge amount of publicity. It would've been a big deal for a league that needed a fanbase in its inaugural season.
Colin Kaepernick's inclusion in the AAF would have meant front-stage coverage from every major network and outlet, along with a landslide of social media imprints. Yet, both sides went in different directions soon after.
What happened to both the AAF and Colin Kaepernick after the $20 million salary request?
In April 2019, the AAF suspended its football operations after lasting eight weeks. Many cite the owner of the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes, Tom Dundon, as the reason for the league's sudden move to close down.
Dundon spoke to USA Today days prior to the AAF suspending its football operations. He commented that the league needed mutual support from the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) to maintain the its viability.
Dundon said:
"If the players' union is not going to give us young players, we can't be a development league."
As for the former San Francisco 49ers star, he had a workout with the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason. Yet, the quarterback was not given a contract by the team to play this season. However, Kaepernick seems to have made the right call for not joining the AAF, but will we ever see him play football again?
