Colin Kaepernick given unexpected shot at comeback with UFL ready to make new offer

Colin Kaepernick hasn’t played in the NFL since 2016 after his protest kneeling during the national anthem. Now, he has a fresh chance. Doug Whaley, the United Football League’s senior vice president of player personnel, said this week just before the 2025–26 NFL season that if Kaepernick reaches out, the UFL will listen.

The league wants to help players relaunch their careers and offer a path back to the NFL.

Doug Whaley says Colin Kaepernick is welcome if he wants to play

Doug Whaley made his comments during an interview with TMZ Sports on September 1, 2025. He said, “He hasn’t reached out to us, but he knows we’re here, so if he wants it, we would listen. It’d cost us nothing to listen.”

That means the UFL is ready to open a door if Colin Kaepernick wants to walk through. Whaley also mentioned other routes for Kaepernick.

Besides the UFL, he said Canadian Football League (CFL) teams could offer a chance too.If Kaepernick put together some recent tape of his play, he might get an opportunity.

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Colin Kaepernick’s career pause and the UFL's chance to revive it

Colin Kaepernick rose to fame as a quarterback with the San Francisco 49ers. He played in Super Bowl XLVII and earned 85 total touchdowns, including 13 rushing scores. But after opting out of his contract before the 2017 season, he never played again.

He also filed a collusion grievance against the NFL, which ended in a settlement. Now, nearly nine years later, the UFL stands ready. The United Football League began play in 2024 as a spring developmental league with eight teams, aiming to be a place where players can grow and move on to the NFL. Doug Whaley’s offer gives Colin Kaepernick a clear choice: get back on the field and show what he can still do.