The New York Jets had legitimate Super Bowl aspirations after signing four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers this offseason. However, the quarterback’s 2023 season was ended after just four games due to a torn Achilles tendon.
While head coach Robert Saleh quickly handed the reins to former No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson, there was a lot of speculation about what the Jets might do to replace Rodgers at center. Some turned their attention to the retired Tom Brady while others began going through the short list of free agents.
Another name brought up by some football fans was Colin Kaepernick, the former 49ers quarterback and civil rights activist who has been looking for a new opportunity in the NFL for years. He actually reached out to the Jets after Rodgers’ injury, but wasn’t on New York’s radar.
On Tuesday, musician J. Cole posted a letter from Kaepernick to Jets general manager Joe Douglas on social media. In this letter, Kaepernick asks not to take over Wilson’s position but to be included in the training squad. Cole said that Kaepernick initially didn’t want the letter released to the world, but Cole argued that everyone should know about his work ethic and his desire to play again.
The letter is dated 10 days after Rodgers was injured in the season opener. Kaepernick says his training schedule has remained the same for six years and that he’s not done with football yet. He also cites Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, UCLA head coach Chip Kelly and Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis as references.
“Worst case, you see what I have to offer and you’re not that impressed. “Best case scenario is that you realize you have a real weapon in case you ever need to use it,” Kaepernick wrote. “In any of those scenarios, I would be committed to getting your defense ready week in, week out, all season long, and I would wear that responsibility like a badge of honor.”
Kaepernick’s last NFL appearance was on January 1, 2017. He actually trained for the Raiders in May 2022, but nothing came of it. On the same day this letter was published, the Jets signed veteran quarterback Trevor Siemian to their practice squad, who played for the Cincinnati Bengals this preseason.
It remains to be seen whether Kaepernick is on an NFL team’s radar, but the arguments he made for himself are now available for everyone to read.