Colin Kaepernick’s collusion claim explained
Colin Kaepernick, a former San Francisco 49ers quarterback who played in the NFL from 2011 through the 2016 season, publicly accused NFL owners of “openly colluding” against Macklemore during a MeidasTouch Podcast interview with host Ben Meiselas released on September 16, 2026.
The allegation echoes Kaepernick’s 2017 grievance, in which he claimed NFL teams colluded to keep him unsigned after his national anthem protests. Kaepernick and the NFL reached a confidential settlement in 2019, and he has not played in the league since the 2016 season.
Macklemore’s Palestine remarks spark backlash
Rapper Macklemore was removed from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour after making pro-Palestinian remarks onstage in New Jersey. During two shows at MetLife Stadium on September 4 and 5, 2026, he repeatedly chanted Free Palestine while a screen behind him showed footage from Gaza.
The remarks drew criticism from an Israeli American organization, which launched a petition demanding his removal. Singer Pink also criticized Macklemore publicly over the weekend before Sheeran’s team announced the decision to drop him from the remaining U.S. tour dates.
Kraft allegedly pressured other stadium owners
Macklemore says New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft moved to block him from performing at Gillette Stadium. According to Macklemore’s Instagram statement, Sheeran told him Kraft would not allow the rapper on stage during the September 25 and 26 shows in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Macklemore also claims Kraft rallied other stadium owners to issue an ultimatum to Sheeran’s team. He alleges the owners threatened to bar Sheeran from their venues entirely unless Macklemore was dropped from the remaining dates of the tour.
Robert Kraft defends blocking Macklemore
Kraft confirmed his role in Macklemore’s removal in a statement issued September 15, 2026. He said Gillette Stadium has a longstanding commitment to a welcoming environment and does not provide a platform for what he called hate speech.
Kraft cited Macklemore’s onstage material and what he described as a history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery. He said the decision does not diminish Palestinian suffering and offered to meet with Macklemore to discuss the facts directly.
Kaepernick compares NFL response to his case
Kaepernick told the MeidasTouch podcast that Kraft’s actions toward Macklemore mirror what he faced after his 2016 anthem protests. He said owners are willing to collude to protect their interests, power, and money when players or artists challenge them.
He said the same organizing pattern played out when he filed his own grievance, when owners initially denied any coordinated effort against him. Kaepernick said the incident shows the need for players and artists to organize collectively in response.
Kaepernick’s 2017 grievance against the NFL
Kaepernick filed a collusion grievance against the NFL in 2017 after going unsigned following the 2016 season. He hired attorney Mark Geragos, who argued that peaceful political protest should not be punished by team owners.
At the time, Commissioner Roger Goodell denied the league had blackballed Kaepernick, telling ESPN that a team would sign him if it believed he could help them win. The NFL Players Association said it would support the grievance.
Kaepernick’s collusion case settled in 2019
Kaepernick’s collusion grievance against the NFL ended in a confidential settlement in 2019, months before it was set to go before an arbitrator. The exact payout was never disclosed by either side.
Former teammate Eric Reid, who also filed a grievance, was included in the settlement. Some reports at the time estimated the combined payout for both players was below $10 million, though neither Kaepernick nor the NFL confirmed a figure.
Kaepernick says his NFL absence cost him more than $150M
Kaepernick estimates that his continued absence from the NFL cost him more than $150 million in potential football earnings. He discussed the estimate in a 2026 interview marking 10 years since his national anthem protest became public.
Kaepernick’s 2016 base salary was approximately $11.9 million, not more than $19 million. His 2014 agreement was a 6-year extension worth $114 million in new money and up to $126 million when combined with the final year of his existing contract. He has not signed with an NFL team since leaving the 49ers.
Fun fact: The Chicago Cubs selected Colin Kaepernick as a right-handed pitcher in the 43rd round, 1,310th overall, of the 2009 MLB Draft.
Goodell denied blacklisting Kaepernick in 2017
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell denied that teams had colluded against Kaepernick after the quarterback filed his 2017 grievance. Goodell said teams would sign Kaepernick if they believed he could help them win.
The NFL has never publicly acknowledged collusion against Kaepernick, and the confidential 2019 settlement included no public admission of wrongdoing. Amid the broader player protest movement, the NFL and the Players Coalition developed a social justice funding initiative initially valued at nearly $90 million through 2023.
Kaepernick released his memoir on September 15
Kaepernick released his memoir, The Perilous Fight, on September 15, 2026, through Legacy Lit, an imprint of Hachette Book Group. The book arrived just over 10 years after he first knelt during the national anthem on September 1, 2016.
Kaepernick narrated the audiobook, which Audible released the same day. The memoir explores his childhood, football career, activism and the experiences that led to his 2016 protest.
Kaepernick still seeking an NFL comeback
Kaepernick has made repeated attempts to return to the NFL since leaving the 49ers. He completed a workout with the Las Vegas Raiders in May 2022, but the team did not offer him a contract.
Kaepernick is 38 and has not played in an NFL game since the 2016 season. He has continued to express confidence that he could compete in the league, while maintaining that NFL teams have kept him out because of his activism.
Kaepernick’s life and work since leaving NFL
Since leaving the NFL, Kaepernick has expanded his work in activism and publishing. He co-founded Know Your Rights Camp, founded Kaepernick Publishing and helped establish the Autopsy Initiative, which assists families seeking independent autopsies in police-related or otherwise contested deaths.
Kaepernick became the face of Nike’s “Dream Crazy” campaign in 2018, although his endorsement relationship with Nike began years earlier. He completed a $1 million pledge to organizations serving underserved communities in January 2018 and has since supported additional charitable initiatives through Know Your Rights Camp.
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Gillette Stadium shows remain scheduled for September 25 and 26
Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour remains scheduled to play Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on September 25 and 26, 2026, without Macklemore. Macklemore said he hoped the dispute would not end his 13-year friendship with Sheeran.
Kraft offered to meet with Macklemore, but no completed meeting had been publicly reported as of September 21. Since Macklemore’s removal, Sheeran’s other supporting acts and members of his touring band have withdrawn, while Kaepernick has accused NFL owners of “openly colluding” against the rapper.
Colin Kaepernick breaks his silence on NFL boycott and makes a major accusation, offering a fresh look at his latest comments and the controversy surrounding them. Explore the details.
What do you think about Colin Kaepernick’s comparison between his NFL collusion case and Macklemore’s dispute with Robert Kraft? Share your thoughts in the comments.
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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