Former Quarterback, Now 37, Maintains Rigorous Training as Speculation on a Comeback Swirls
Nearly a decade after his last snap in the NFL, former quarterback Colin Kaepernick remains steadfast in his pursuit of a return to professional football. Despite the passing years, the social justice activist and entrepreneur is reportedly training rigorously and staying in top athletic form. While he has successfully pivoted to new ventures in business and media, his passion for the sport that made him a household name has not waned. The renewed speculation about a potential comeback has placed the conversation around Kaepernick’s career and his legacy back in the spotlight.
The Enduring Hope of an NFL Comeback
Colin Kaepernick, who will turn 38 later this year, has not given up on his dream of playing in the NFL again. According to his longtime partner, Nessa Diab, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback is “training all day, every day” and has not wavered in his dedication. Over the past few seasons, his name has frequently surfaced in discussions around quarterback vacancies and depth chart issues on various teams. While there have been no official reports of a signing, speculative articles from late July 2025 have linked him to the Minnesota Vikings as a potential backup quarterback to provide veteran leadership and security. These discussions, though speculative, highlight the persistent belief among some fans and commentators that Kaepernick still has what it takes to play in the league. His past attempts to return, including a workout with the Las Vegas Raiders and a public letter to the New York Jets in 2023 offering to join their practice squad, demonstrate his unwavering commitment.
A New Chapter in Tech and Business
Outside of the football field, Kaepernick has successfully built a new career as a businessman and advocate. A major focus of his recent efforts is his new company, Lumi, an artificial intelligence startup designed to empower content creators. Backed by a $4 million seed investment from Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian’s venture capital firm, Lumi’s mission is to provide tools for independent creators to develop, publish, and monetize their work. The company recently launched a beta version aimed at comic book creators, with plans to expand into other creative fields. In addition to his tech ventures, Kaepernick remains active with his publishing company, Kaepernick Publishing, and his youth-focused initiative, the Know Your Rights Camp, which continues to promote racial justice and education.
A Legacy of Protest and Perseverance
Kaepernick’s career and public identity remain inextricably linked to his 2016 protest, where he began kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial injustice and police brutality. That controversial decision led to him being unsigned by an NFL team, a situation that many believe was a result of collusion by the league. Despite this, Kaepernick has refused to retire or give up on his passion for the game, choosing instead to train and fight for his return while building a powerful legacy of activism and business success off the field. The ongoing conversation about a potential return to the NFL highlights the complexity of his story, a tale of both perseverance in the face of professional hardship and a powerful impact on American culture.
