For the first time since he began kneeling during the national anthem in 2016, former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick will make his return to the Madden NFL video game from EA Sports.
Starting today, gamers playing Madden NFL 21 can use 32-year-old Kaepernick with any team while using the game’s Franchise format, as well as play with him in the Play Now mode.
“Colin Kaepernick is one of the top free agents in football and a starting-caliber quarterback,” EA Sports said in a statement. “The team at EA SPORTS, along with millions of Madden NFL fans, want to see him back in our game … Knowing that our EA SPORTS experiences are platforms for players to create, we want to make Madden NFL a place that reflects Colin’s position and talent, rates him as a starting QB, and empowers our fans to express their hopes for the future of football. We’ve worked with Colin to make this possible, and we’re excited to bring it to all of you today.”
Though he hasn’t played in the NFL in half a decade, Kaepernick has an 81 rating in the game, a rank that takes into account how long it’s been since he’s taken the field. When Kaepernick was a healthy starting quarterback he was rated at 89, 89 and 81 overall.
This season, it seems very likely many players will follow Kaepernick’s lead and kneel during the national anthem in protest of racial inequality in America. That includes players on the Cowboys after Dallas owner Jerry Jones seemed to give his players the go-ahead to kneel during a radio appearance on 105.3 The Fan.
“That’s the great thing about America: Everybody has a difference,” Jones said. “If our players are there, they are sensitive to and respect what America is as it relates to the flag. I’ll assure you that. I’d hope that our fans — and I think they will — understand that our players have issues that they need help on. They need help from the majority of America.”
Not everyone was pleased with the development.
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