JORDAN-CHRISTOPHER PURVIS
Staff Writer
Colin Kaepernick is making his return back to the NFL, but it’ll be on the virtual side of things.
Earlier this month, Electronic Arts Sports, the creators of the highly acclaimed Madden NFL video game series, announced that Kaepernick will indeed be featured in this year’s installment of Madden 21.
Madden 17 marks the last time that Kaepernick appeared in the video game series.
Through an Instagram post, Electronic Arts welcomed Kaepernick and shared that fans and supporters of his can use him throughout the video game.
“Colin Kaepernick is one of the top free agents in football and a starting-caliber quarterback,” Electronic Arts Sports said. “The team at EA SPORTS, along with millions of Madden NFL fans, want to see him back in our game. We’ve had a long relationship with Colin through Madden NFL and worked through our past soundtrack mistakes.”
“Starting today in Madden 21, fans can put Colin Kaepernick at the helm of any NFL team in Franchise mode, as well as play with him in Play Now. We look forward to seeing Colin on Madden NFL teams everywhere.”
The 32-year-old free-agent quarterback is rated 81 overall, and he can now be selected and used in-game through Franchise mode and Play Now.
Kaepernick hasn’t taken a snap in the NFL since the 2016-2017 season as a part of the San Francisco 49ers organization.
Four years ago, Kaepernick had this to say to NFL media as to why he took a peaceful approach by sitting and kneeling during the national anthem: “I mean, ultimately it’s to bring awareness and make people realize what’s really going on in this country. There are a lot of things that are going on that are unjust, people aren’t being held accountable for, and that’s something that needs to change. That’s something that this country stands for: freedom, liberty [and] justice for all. And it’s not happening for all right now.”
The same season Kaepernick began to take a peaceful approach by sitting and kneeling during the national anthem to bring awareness to racial inequality and police brutality throughout the United States.
Kaepernick remains unsigned by any NFL team.
Nonetheless, off the field, he has been an outspoken advocate against police brutality and systematic oppression.