Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick took to social media to call out NFL commissioner Rodger Goodell for his apparent hypocrisy on free speech. Goodell recently defended Kansas City Chiefs Harrison Butker’s commencement speech, where the kicker made controversial comments about the LGBTQ+ community and women.
Rodger Goodell backed up Harrison Butker’s speech
![Former San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick Slams NFL's Rodger Goodell Over Harrison Butker Hypocrisy 1 Kansas City Chiefs, Harrison Butker, Kelly Stafford, Kelly Stafford Harrison Butker](https://gridironheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_2198-831x1024.jpeg)
Kaepernick cited Yahoo Sports’ Jori Epstein’s transcription of Goodell’s comments on Butker this week:
“We have over 3,000 players. … They have a diversity of opinions & thoughts just like America does. I think that’s something that we treasure & that’s part of ultimately what makes us as a society better.”
Goodell’s statement echoed a statement the NFL released last week:
“Harrison Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity. His views are not those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger.”
Kaepernick’s long-time partner, Nessa Diab, posted a picture of an article titled “Goodell doesn’t agree with Kaepernick’s actions” on her Instagram story.
![Former San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick Slams NFL's Rodger Goodell Over Harrison Butker Hypocrisy 2 IMG 7491](https://gridironheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_7491-863x1024.jpg)
Kaepernick posted a screenshot of Diab’s story with the text, “That’s why I don’t watch that organization-and I still don’t care who performs at their halftime show.”
Goodell had a different tone about Colin Kaepernick’s speech
![Former San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick Slams NFL's Rodger Goodell Over Harrison Butker Hypocrisy 3 USATSI 18028924 168400517 lowres](https://gridironheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/USATSI_18028924_168400517_lowres-683x1024.jpg)
Diab and Kaepernick referenced a post by Qasim Rashid on a quote Goodell gave in 2017 on Kaepernick:
We believe that everyone should stand for the National Anthem. We want to honor our flag and our country and our fans expect that of us. The controversy over the Anthem is a barrier to having honest conversations and making real progress.”
Fans react to hypocrisy shown to the former San Francisco 49ers QB
![Former San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick Slams NFL's Rodger Goodell Over Harrison Butker Hypocrisy 4 USATSI 18007217 168400517 lowres](https://gridironheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/USATSI_18007217_168400517_lowres-682x1024.jpg)
Fans took to social media to respond to Goodell’s comments on Kaepernick in 2017. Many people pointed out their is a major difference between how the league is handling Butker’s situation versus how they handled Kaepernick.
I wonder what the difference is here? 🤔
Can’t qwhite put my finger on it…😡— Dawn, she/her 🟧 (@dawnat1618) May 23, 2024
The crazy part it was a military guy who asked him to take the knee he was originally sitting on the bench like dozens of other players and fans do during the amthem
— tom brad (@tombig1983) May 23, 2024
Thank you for highlighting this but many of us knew who Goodell was. He toes the line and Kap was a bridge too far for him to cross. This country is really not living up to its promise because of the type of people who are in “leadership positions”!
— Descendant of the Annunaki (@ShawnDaNupe) May 23, 2024
STOP WATCHING FOOTBALL.
— 🫡J Leep🫡 (@JLeep86) May 23, 2024
You disrespect our flag/Anthem you’re garbage to me. Just my opinion
— Jack Cann (@lokicann24) May 23, 2024
Typical double standard.
— BigK (@BIGKBK) May 23, 2024
But honoring women is a bridge too far 🤦♀️
— 🟦OhRiba🟧 (@oh_riba) May 23, 2024
For More Football News:
Follow me on Twitter at @JordanSig. You can also reach out to Jordan Sigler via email at jordanmsigler@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in college and NFL news, click here!
2 Comments
What CK did was at an NFL game. What Butker did was at a small Catholic college, that coincides with his faith (apart and aside from the NFL).
Unfortunately, because of Butker, now all Chiefs fans are being painted with the same broad brush. Apparently we’re all rabid Catholics that hate women and all LGBTQ+. Some of us actually don’t believe superstitious BS, and are for inclusion.
Why are we playing the national anthem at sporting events anyway!?! Has sport now somehow become government sanctioned? If it was the Olympics or the Ryder Cup, okay. NFL games….yeah, uh no.
Kap didn’t disrespect the flag said many times over. He didn’t burn the flag,didn’t spit on the flag or use the flag and pole to beat the hell out of police officers at the US Capitol he would be in Jail now, “or would he “? That platform was to bring passionate awareness of racial injustice in the US. The thing is America already knows these things,but will be the first to call out other countries that does far far less. I know this is the greatest country of all but until we come to grips with we have done wrong, we are doing wrong and we have the ability to fix it and Will Not. One Day this Nation will Fall, What goes around comes around.