Colin Kaepernick, the former NFL quarterback Blasts Chiefs for Ruining His Career in Explosive Interview

Kansas City, MO - June 22, 2025, 6:45 PM CDT

Colin Kaepernick, the former NFL quarterback whose career derailed after his 2016 protest against racial injustice, unleashed a scathing attack on the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, accusing the Super Bowl champions of sabotaging his professional trajectory. In a fiery 30-minute interview with The Undefeated, the 37-year-old claimed the Chiefs’ dominance and their handling of quarterback Patrick Mahomes have “single-handedly destroyed” his chances of returning to the NFL. The accusations have ignited a firestorm—Chiefs fans and league insiders are left grappling with Kaepernick’s bold claims.

Kaepernick, who last played in an NFL game on January 1, 2017, with the San Francisco 49ers, pointed to the Chiefs’ rise as a pivotal factor in his exile. “When Patrick Mahomes took over in 2018, the league shifted its focus to him. Teams stopped looking at versatile quarterbacks like me because they thought they had their golden boy,” Kaepernick said, his voice trembling with frustration. He argued that the Chiefs’ back-to-back Super Bowl wins (2020, 2023) and Mahomes’ record-breaking $450 million contract set an unrealistic standard, overshadowing his own dual-threat skills—16,310 passing yards, 4,112 rushing yards, and 72 touchdowns in six seasons. This narrative is explosive—Kaepernick believes Kansas City’s success came at his expense.

The former 49ers star, who became a cultural icon for kneeling during the national anthem, suggested the Chiefs influenced a league-wide bias against him. “Kansas City built this dynasty, and every GM started chasing that mold. They didn’t want someone like me who speaks out—they wanted the quiet, marketable Mahomes type,” he alleged. Kaepernick’s 2016 protest, which sparked a movement, led to his release by San Francisco in 2017, and despite workouts with teams like the Seattle Seahawks and a 2022 tryout with the Las Vegas Raiders, no contract materialized. He now pins part of the blame on Chiefs GM Brett Veach, claiming Veach’s public praise of Mahomes pressured other teams to avoid “risky” signings like himself. This accusation is a bombshell—Kaepernick is holding Kansas City accountable.

Chiefs fans on X erupted in response, with posts ranging from defensive to dismissive. “Kaepernick’s just bitter he couldn’t keep up,” one user wrote, while another countered, “Maybe he should blame his own choices, not our team.” The Chiefs, who boast a 12-4 record in 2024 and are favored to three-peat in 2025, have not commented officially. Coach Andy Reid, known for his measured demeanor, declined to address Kaepernick’s remarks after practice Sunday, saying only, “We focus on our guys here.” Mahomes, meanwhile, posted a cryptic Instagram story: “Control what you can.” This silence is deafening—the Chiefs appear unwilling to engage in the controversy.

Kaepernick’s claims hinge on a theory that the Chiefs’ success redefined the quarterback market, sidelining veterans like him. His 2016 stats—2,241 passing yards, 468 rushing yards, and 16 touchdowns in 12 games—demonstrated he could still perform, yet no team offered a deal after his departure from San Francisco. Critics argue his political stance, not Mahomes, ended his career, but Kaepernick insists the Chiefs’ influence amplified that bias. “They made it about fit, not talent. I deserved a shot to prove myself,” he said, referencing a 2023 workout video where he showcased his arm strength and mobility. This stance is polarizing—some see a victim, others a scapegoat.

The NFL’s landscape has indeed shifted since Mahomes’ emergence. Teams like the Cincinnati Bengals (Joe Burrow) and Buffalo Bills (Josh Allen) followed the Chiefs’ model, prioritizing young, high-upside quarterbacks over experienced players with controversy. Kaepernick’s last public tryout, attended by 10 teams in 2022, yielded no offers, fueling his narrative. With $18.7 million in cap space, per Spotrac, the Chiefs could theoretically have signed him as a backup, but their loyalty to Mahomes and Chad Henne’s retirement in 2023 left no room. This missed opportunity stings—Kaepernick feels robbed of his legacy.

As training camp nears on July 20, Kaepernick’s outburst has reignited debates about his career. Is he justified in blaming the Chiefs, or is this a deflection from his own challenges? His passion for football remains—he’s training for the 2028 Olympics flag football event—but his NFL dream fades. The Chiefs’ dynasty continues to thrive, with Mahomes’ 24,241 career passing yards and four Super Bowl appearances. This controversy is raw—Kaepernick’s words challenge the league’s narrative. Stay tuned to ESPN for updates.