The Alliance of American Football league debuted last weekend with some recognizable names on their rosters, though none as big as Colin Kaepernick. The former NFL quarterback is a player they actually had conversations with about playing for the league, though his price tag was an impediment.
According to the AP, Kaepernick sought $20 million to consider playing in the league. The league also approached Tim Tebow, who declined their interest in order to continue his pro baseball career.
Kaepernick made over $43 million during his NFL career, according to Spotrac. He made at least $12 million per year from 2014-2016.
Kaepernick has not played in the NFL since 2016, which is when he began protesting racial and social injustice and police brutality through demonstrations in the national anthem. His methods led to nationwide attention, making him a polarizing figure.
Even though he is not playing football, Kaepernick does have a major endorsement deal with Nike.
The AAF has the same contract structure for their players: they receive $70,000 in their first year, $80,000 in their second, and $100,000 in their third. The $20 million mark from Kaepernick was probably a starting point for negotiations, but regardless, the figure was well beyond what they are paying any other players.
