Colin Kaepernick says NFL and slavery are part of the 'same process' in interview with Ryan Clark
Colin Kaepernick Re‑raises Comparison of NFL Combine to Slave Auction on Podcast
Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick reiterated a controversial comparison between the National Football League’s scouting combine and a slave auction during a recent episode of the “Pivot” podcast, hosted by former ESPN commentator Ryan Clark.
The interview, released in early September, followed Kaepernick’s appearance in the 2021 Netflix documentary “Colin in Black & White.” In that series, he described the combine as a “slave auction,” stating that teams “poke, prod and examine you, searching for any defect that might affect your performance. No boundary respected. No dignity left intact.” The documentary also showed Kaepernick depicting the combine as a meat market, with participants “strip[ping] down to your drawers.”
During the podcast, Clark asked when Kaepernick first realized that the combine reminded him of the slave trade. Kaepernick replied, “You get to the point, where it’s like, ‘Strip down to your drawers,’ it feels like a meat market.” He added that in 2011, when he first noticed the parallels, he lacked the historical perspective to fully understand the comparison. He also noted that while the NFL pays players millions, the “process and intentions behind the process are the same” as slavery, according to Kaepernick.
Kaepernick’s comments come amid ongoing discussions about his status as a free agent. The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback has not played in the NFL since January 2017, when he was released by the team. He has said he is “ready” to return to the league and continues to train daily, maintaining the routine of a starting quarterback.
The “Pivot” podcast episode was recorded in Washington, D.C., and streamed online on September 6. It followed a speaking event Kaepernick gave earlier in the month with journalist Jemele Hill, where he addressed his ongoing activism and expressed his desire to rejoin the NFL.
The conversation has generated mixed reactions among sports media commentators. Supporters of Kaepernick argue that his remarks highlight systemic issues within the NFL’s talent‑scouting process, while critics claim the comparison is historically inaccurate and inflammatory. The debate underscores the broader conversation about race, labor, and the legacy of slavery in contemporary American sports.