What Is the Colin Kaepernick Grievance
Colin Kaepernick filed a grievance against the NFL in 2017, alleging that NFL teams colluded to keep him out of the league after he began kneeling during the national anthem. The grievance was filed under the league's collective bargaining agreement. It sought to prove that team owners acted in concert to deny him work because of his protest.
Grievance Status and Resolution
The grievance went through arbitration proceedings with a neutral arbitrator. In February 2019, arbitrator Stephen Burbank ruled that the NFL and its teams did not collude to exclude Kaepernick. The decision meant Kaepernick did not win the grievance or receive a financial award. The NFL stated that teams simply chose not to sign him.
Financial and Career Impact
Kaepernick has not played in the NFL since the 2016 season. His grievance focused on lost wages and career opportunities rather than a specific contract value. While the grievance did not result in a settlement, it highlighted labor issues in professional sports. The case remains a reference point in discussions about athlete activism and league policies.
For more details on the arbitration process, visit the American Arbitration Association.
