NFL and Kaepernick settle collusion case, avoiding a trial
Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick has settled his collusion grievance against the league and teams.
Terms of the settlement were not announced. The NFL and Kaepernick’s attorney, Mark Geragos, announced the settlement Friday without providing further details.
A separate grievance by Carolina Panthers safety Eric Reid also was resolved.
“For the past several months, counsel for Mr. Kaepernick and Mr. Reid have engaged in an ongoing dialogue with representatives of the NFL,” the league and the lawyers for Kaepernick and Reid said in a joint statement. “As a result of those discussions, the parties have decided to resolve the pending grievances. The resolution of this matter is subject to a confidentiality agreement so there will be no further comment by any party.”
The NFL Players Association also confirmed the settlement.
“Today, we were informed by the NFL of the settlement of the Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid collusion cases,” the NFLPA said in a written statement.
“We are not privy to the details of the settlement, but support the decision by the players and their counsel. We continuously supported Colin and Eric from the start of their protests, participated with their lawyers throughout their legal proceedings and were prepared to participate in the upcoming trial in pursuit of both truth and justice for what we believe the NFL and its clubs did to them. We are glad that Eric has earned a job and a new contract, and we continue to hope that Colin gets his opportunity as well.”
Kaepernick has been out of the league the past two seasons. While a member of the San Francisco 49ers in the 2016 season, he began the movement by players of protesting during the U.S. national anthem. Kaepernick declined to stand for the anthem before games to bring attention to racial inequality and police treatment of African-Americans.
He was not signed as a free agent after opting out of his contract with the 49ers following the 2016 season. Kaepernick filed a grievance accusing teams and the league of improperly conspiring, in violation of the collective bargaining agreement, to keep him out of the NFL. His case was to be heard by arbitrator Stephen Burbank, who last year denied a request by the league to dismiss the complaint.