Colin Kaepernick is ready to get on the field again.
In an Instagram post on Tuesday, rapper J. Cole shared a copy of a letter that Kaepernick, 35, wrote to New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas requesting to join the practice squad. Kaepernick’s lawyer confirmed to PEOPLE that the letter was from the quarterback.
“I asked Colin @kaepernick7 if I could share this letter with the world. He was reluctant,” explained the musician, 38, in the post’s caption. “My argument was that I believe the people and all organizations should know the truth about how hard he works and how much he still wants to play. And always has. In the end, he agreed to let me.”
- Cole (L) and Colin Kaepernick (R).
Arturo Holmes/Getty
Kaepernick last played in the NFL as a member of the San Francisco 49ers during the 2016 season. When the national anthem played at the beginning of each game, Kaepernick began taking a knee to protest racial injustice and police brutality.
While he received support from some of his fellow athletes in what was referred to as the #TakeAKnee movement, he also received backlash, causing him to opt out of his contract in March 2017.
In his letter dated Sept. 21, Kaepernick expressed his desire to join the Jets organization and “lead the practice squad.”
“I would do this with the sole mission of getting your defense ready each week,” he wrote. “If I were able to fill this role for the team, I believe this allows for multiple things.”
Kaepernick explained that he was reaching out to the organization “in response to the unfortunate loss of Aaron Rodgers.”
Rodgers, 39, tore his left Achilles tendon during the Jets’ season opener. While he underwent a successful surgery following the injury, he announced in a post on Instagram that it had taken him out of action for the remainder of the season.
“I know the aspirations this season were, and still are, to win a championship, and so that Hall of Fame sized hole will need to be filled as best as possible to keep the team on a Super Bowl track,” wrote Kaepernick.
Colin Kaepernick in 2013.
Ronald Martinez/Getty
While he shared that he understands “Zach Wilson is charged with the task” of being the team’s starting quarterback, he said he was offering the team a “risk-free contingency plan” by joining the practice squad.
“I am sure of my ability to provide you with an elite QB option if, God forbid, QB1 goes down,” wrote Kaepernick. “However, I know that there may naturally be uncertainties from you and possibly from others about my playing abilities. This plan, I believe, allows me to be of great service to the team as a practice squad QB while also giving you a low-commitment chance to assess my capabilities to help in any other capacity you may see fit.”
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Kaepernick ended his letter to Douglas by stating that he has maintained the same training schedule for six years and included a list of individuals in the NFL who would vouch for his “character, work ethic, and ability.”