Colin Kaepernick's kneeling protest sparked mixed reaction in NFL group chat

Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the national anthem 10 years ago.

The moment led to emotional reactions on both sides and rarely with any space left in the middle. NFL players weren't exempt from that reality either, including in a group chat that involved Kaepernick, according to an NBC interview with the former quarterback.

"Reaction from players was also mixed," NBC's Rohan Nadkarni wrote. "While Reid, Kaepernick and five other players kneeled on Sept. 1, 2016, many who said they were sympathetic to Kaepernick's cause disagreed with his decision not to stand for the anthem."

Kaepernick explains as much in his memoir, "The Perilous Fight," which is slated to release on Sept. 15.

The chat featured roughly 100 players from all 32 teams, according to NBC.

"Kaepernick writes of a text exchange in September 2016 in which then-Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman told him he shouldn't tell players how to protest," the network said.

One former player told NBC that the tension in the chat was "palpable," as others suggested that Kaepernick only knelt for personal gain.

JARRETT BELL: 10 years after the kneel, why Colin Kaepernick's sacrifice endures | Opinion

Following a season of drama, Kaepernick became a free agent in 2017 after the Niners informed him of their intention to release him. Kaepernick opted out of his contract instead.

It turned out to be the quarterback's final action in the NFL. He started 11 games and appeared in 12 during the 2016 season, posting a 1-10 record. He completed 59.2% of passes and tossed 16 touchdowns to just four interceptions, while adding 468 rushing yards and two touchdowns as a runner.

The 49ers turned the page on that era after the season, hiring Kyle Shanahan as the new head coach. He remains the coach to this day.

For Kaepernick, there wasn't another NFL season. He fought the league with a grievance in 2017, which was settled in 2019.

According to NBC, that includes work on business endeavors like the Know Your Rights Camp, his AI company, Lumi Story, and production house, Kaepernick Media. In between all of that, Kaepernick is busy helping to raise his 4-year-old daughter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Colin Kaepernick's kneeling protest sparked mixed reaction in NFL group chat