Colin Kaepernick Reveals Why Raiders Passed on Him After 2022 Workout

The former 49ers signal-caller detailed what he thought the franchise’s reasoning was for not offering him a backup role.

Colin Kaepernick’s pursuit of an NFL comeback has surely featured some interesting and, at times, confusing, conversations and feedback from teams. But a workout with the Raiders in 2022 was the first for the former 49ers signal-caller in almost six years.

It also appeared, on the surface, like a real opportunity for Kaepernick to have a chance at an NFL return. The Raiders had Derek Carr as their starting quarterback, with a backup/third-string battle between Jarrett Stidham and Nick Mullens.

After the Raiders opted to pass on signing Kaepernick, there wasn’t much that came to light on the situation. During an interview with Sports Illustrated’s Gilberto Manzano, he was asked why Las Vegas didn’t sign him, and Kaepernick admitted to a belief there was “something else within this decision.”

“I’ve heard a lot of excuses over the years,” Kaepernick says, “but most of the time it ends up, ‘Oh, we’re going to see how the guys that we have do.’ With the Raiders’ situation last year, that was Stidham and Nick Mullens, which to me, you just compare résumés and capabilities, on top of the workout and the feedback, it’s like, ‘O.K., cool.’

“Obviously, there’s something else within this decision. To me, that’s typically what it ends up being, or has been for the last seven years. So, I just want the opportunity to come in, show what I can do on the field. Judge me based upon that, not the political bias that you have.”

The rest of the story for the Raiders has been well-documented, with Carr now a member of the Saints and the quarterback room in Las Vegas being flipped entirely ahead of the 2023 season.