Jay-Z‘s three-night Yankee Stadium concert series generated headlines for surprise appearances from some of music’s biggest stars. But one lyric delivered during the opening night has sparked a different kind of conversation.
During a freestyle aimed at critics, the hip-hop mogul referenced Colin Kaepernick and suggested the former NFL quarterback accepted a settlement that required him to sign a non-disparagement agreement. However, sources with direct knowledge of the settlement told TMZ Sports that claim is inaccurate, setting the stage for renewed discussion about one of the most closely watched chapters in modern sports and entertainment.
With the concerts otherwise celebrated for their all-star guest lineup, the unexpected reference to Kaepernick has become one of the weekend’s most debated moments.
Jay-Z Referenced Colin Kaepernick During Freestyle
While performing on the opening night of his Yankee Stadium residency, Jay-Z delivered a freestyle that addressed longtime criticism surrounding his relationship with the NFL.
During the verse, he rapped:
“They run out of characters, had to bring back up Kap again. Buddy took a check, I ain’t even mad at him, but along with that check you have to sign a non-disparagement. I’m the one they can’t control.”
The lyric immediately drew attention because it revisited a topic that has largely faded from public debate in recent years.
Following the performance, some fans questioned why Jay-Z chose to reference Kaepernick nearly seven years after the quarterback and the NFL reached a confidential settlement.
According to TMZ Sports, however, the larger issue is the accuracy of the claim itself.
Sources with direct knowledge of the settlement told the outlet that Kaepernick did not sign a non-disparagement agreement as part of the 2019 resolution of his grievance against the NFL.
According to those sources, no such provision was included in the confidential settlement.
They also pointed to Kaepernick’s public social media activity in the years since the agreement, noting that he has continued criticizing NFL teams for not signing him.
One source told TMZ Sports that Kaepernick would not have been able to publicly post about the length of time since an NFL team last signed him if a non-disparagement provision prevented him from criticizing the league.
Neither the NFL nor Kaepernick has publicly disclosed the terms of the confidential settlement.
Why Bring Up Kaepernick Now?
The timing of Jay-Z’s lyric has prompted additional speculation, though no explanation has been provided by the rapper.
TMZ noted that earlier on Friday, before the concert, reports surfaced that Kaepernick and Tyler Perry were helping pay for funeral services and a private autopsy for Nolan Wells, the Mississippi teenager whose death has drawn national attention.
The raw information does not establish any connection between that development and Jay-Z’s remarks.
Beyond that possibility, the reason for the reference remains unclear.
Jay-Z and Kaepernick have long been linked in public discussions because of Roc Nation’s partnership with the NFL to produce the Super Bowl Halftime Show.
When that partnership was announced, some critics argued Jay-Z’s business relationship with the league conflicted with his previous public support for Kaepernick during the quarterback’s national anthem protests.
Over time, however, those debates largely subsided.
That context has left some observers questioning why the issue resurfaced during the concert.
Colin Kaepernick filed a grievance against the NFL, alleging team owners colluded to keep him out of the league after his protests during the national anthem brought national attention to racial justice and police brutality.
In 2019, Kaepernick and the NFL reached a confidential settlement that resolved the grievance.
Because the agreement remains confidential, neither side has publicly disclosed its terms.
Jay-Z later entered into a partnership between Roc Nation and the NFL centered on entertainment initiatives, including production of the Super Bowl Halftime Show.
That partnership generated significant public discussion at the time, with supporters viewing it as an opportunity to influence the league while critics questioned whether it undermined Kaepernick’s activism.
1,363 days of being denied employment.
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) November 23, 2020
Still putting in work with @E_Reid35
Still going hard 5 days a week. #StillReady#StopRunning pic.twitter.com/iMeJ03IRuB
Why It Matters
Jay-Z and Colin Kaepernick remain two of the most influential figures connected to the intersection of sports, music, and social activism.
When either revisits the controversy surrounding the NFL protests, the comments naturally attract widespread attention.
In this case, the discussion has focused not only on why the lyric was delivered but also on whether one of its central claims accurately reflects the confidential settlement reached years ago.
As of now, Jay-Z has not publicly elaborated on the lyric.
For many fans, Jay-Z’s Yankee Stadium concerts were expected to be remembered for blockbuster performances featuring Beyoncé, Rihanna, Alicia Keys, Eminem, Usher, Nas, Pharrell Williams, and other surprise guests.
Instead, one freestyle verse has generated an entirely different conversation—one that reaches beyond music into the long-running public dialogue about sports, activism, and the NFL.
Whether Jay-Z chooses to clarify the lyric remains to be seen. For now, the onstage remark has reignited discussion about Colin Kaepernick’s NFL settlement, even as sources with direct knowledge dispute one of the rapper’s central claims.
