While it may not seem like it on the surface, O.J. Simpson and Colin Kaepernick have a lot in common. And it’s certainly not because both once played for the San Francisco 49ers, although that is obviously something they share. But beyond the game of football, Simpson and Kaepernick have been at the center of two of the biggest and most divisive debates of the last 25 years.

While it’s unclear whether or not the former Niners QB thinks that “the Juice” killed two people, O.J. Simpson once made it known what he thinks of Colin Kaepernick’s protests.

Like Colin Kaepernick, O.J. Simpson was once part of a heated debate

On October 3, 1995, after 11 months of crazy testimony in what came to be known as the “Trial of the Century,” O.J. Simpson was acquitted of the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown, and 25-year-old Ron Goldman. It was a decision that divided the United States, mostly along racial lines as the majority of whites believed he was guilty and the majority of blacks believed he wasn’t.

More than two decades after the O.J. Simpson verdict came down, another divisive debate started as Colin Kaepernick began his protests against police brutality and racial inequality during the national anthem ahead of 49ers games, the first coming in August 2016 during the preseason. While many were all for what Kap was trying to accomplish, his actions obviously enraged millions, including Donald Trump, who believed that he was disrespecting the United States and the American flag. One of those that didn’t fully agree with what Colin Kaepernick was doing was O.J. Simpson.

O.J. Simpson said that Colin Kaepernick made a ‘bad choice in attacking the flag’

In March 2018, just over five months after being released from prison, O.J. Simpson spoke with The Buffalo News on a variety of topics, one of them being Colin Kaepernick. The former Heisman Trophy winner said that while he understood what Kaepernick was trying to do, he believes that things just went too far, especially as it pertains to the American flag.

“I think Colin made a mistake. I really appreciate what he was trying to say. I thought he made a bad choice in attacking the flag.

“I grew up at a time when deacons were in the KKK. I don’t disrespect the Bible because of those guys. The flag shouldn’t be disrespected because of what cops do. The flag represents what we want America to be.

“When he did it the first time. I thought, ‘Well, you took a gamble, and I give you credit.’ But it was him continuing to do it where he made the biggest mistake.

“I’m a firm believer of doing what you think is right, but I would always stand for the flag.”

O.J. Simpson on Colin Kaepernick

Kap has always known his protests would bring backlash

From day one, Colin Kaepernick has made it crystal clear on why he chose not to stand during the national anthem and knew what he was trying to accomplish would bring plenty of backlash, as he told NFL.com shortly after his protests began.

“This is not something that I am going to run by anybody. I am not looking for approval. I have to stand up for people that are oppressed. … If they take football away, my endorsements from me, I know that I stood up for what is right.”

Colin Kaepernick

While O.J. Simpson is certainly entitled to his opinion, it’s likely that Colin Kaepernick doesn’t care what he thinks whatsoever.