J. Cole recently shared a heartfelt letter penned by free agent NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick to the New York Jets general manager. This comes as Kaepernick continues to face criticism and claims of being “blackballed” from the league due to his controversial kneeling protests during the national anthem in 2016.
Colin Kaepernick Writes The NY Jets
J.Cole recently took to Instagram to share a sincere letter from Colin Kaepernick to New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas. In the letter, Kaepernick expressed his desire to return to the NFL and offered his services to the struggling Jets.
Kaepernick, known for his activism against racial injustice and police brutality, made waves in 2016 when he began kneeling during the national anthem as a member of the San Francisco 49ers. Now, with the Jets facing quarterback issues, J.Cole chose to share Kaepernick’s letter to shed light on his friend’s dedication and perseverance.
The Letter
Taking to Instagram on September 26, the “She Knows” rapper posted the letter along with a caption explaining his intent:
“I asked Colin Kaepernick if I could share this letter with the world,” he wrote. “My argument was that I believe the people and all organizations should know the truth about how hard he works and how much he still wants to play. And always has. In the end, he agreed to let me.”
In the letter, written initially by Kaepernick to Douglas on September 21, the former quarterback expressed his concern for the Jets’ current season and offered his services as a potential addition to their practice squad. With the Jets’ starting quarterback injured and their recent backup struggling, Kaepernick saw an opportunity to contribute and help turn the team’s fortunes around. Kaepernick wrote:
“As much as I would love the opportunity to fill that spot, I’m writing you in hopes that you can imagine a much different approach involving me.”
Users on Twitter (X) reacted to the letter that Kaepernick wrote.
One user commented “j cole real for tha, but at this point it’s just shameful.” One other user commented “Calls the NFL ‘slavery,’ BEGS to come back…Make it make sense.”
J. Cole x Charlotte Hornets
While J.Cole and Kaepernick’s intentions faced scrutiny, with users on social media expressing mixed opinions, the Jets have yet to publicly respond to the letter. Kaepernick, who last played in the NFL on January 1, 2017, has faced ongoing challenges in attempting to resume his professional football career.
In other J.Cole news, he became a partial owner of the Charlotte Hornets after owner and NBA legend Michael Jordan sold his majority stake in the team in June 2023. Jordan sold the stake for $3 billion after purchasing the team for $275 million in 2010.
Ice Cube Claims NBA Works Against BIG3
In a similar vein, other figures in the entertainment industry have also expressed feelings of being blackballed. West Coast rap legend and actor Ice Cube recently accused the NBA of working against his BIG3 basketball league, claiming that “gatekeepers” hinder its mainstream success.