San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (Kyle Terada-Imagn Images)

Colin Kaepernick was once a lightning rod for conversations about the future of quarterbacks in the NFL.

Now he’s become a lightning rod for a different type of conversation.

In 2017, Kaepernick opted out of the final year of his contract amid controversy over his decision to protest police brutality by kneeling during the national anthem. He was effectively blackballed from the league, as he has not signed a new NFL contract since.

Now, a former teammate is speaking out about his changed behavior on the team.

During an appearance on “Bussin’ With The Boys” this week, former 49ers tight end Delanie Walker said Colin Kaepernick was once a guy who partied with the team, but would suddenly change once he became San Francisco’s starter.

“Kap was a good teammate. Imma just be honest, earlier in his career he was great. The dude partied with us. Did everything with us, but once he became the starter, he changed a little bit, which I get it,” Walker said.

“When you become a quarterback in this league, you want to be the guy everybody looks up to. He wasn’t out like he was. He didn’t talk to people like he used to because he was more focused on being this guy, and that was the starting quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers.

Walker was a teammate of Kaepernick, and the two played together for two years in San Francisco. Walker was with Kaepernick for the quarterback’s rookie season and their run to the Super Bowl.

Michael Crabtree was a standout talent in the league who also played on that 49ers team. Crabtree recently admitted that one play from that game still keeps him up at night.

“Super Bowl. Colin Kaepernick throwing the ball out of bounds. I don’t mean to throw you under the bus, love you, bro, Crabtree said.

Colin Kaepernick Still Wants To Play In The NFL

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images)
Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick hasn’t played in the NFL since 2016 but has been vocal about wanting to return to the game.

The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback-turned-activist has not seen any professional football action since Jan. 1, 2017, but he has never stopped trying.

Nessa Diab, the radio host who has been with Kaepernick since 2015, told TMZ earlier this year that the former San Francisco 49ers signal-caller hasn’t stopped working out.

“All day, every day,” Diab said of her partner’s training. “Nothing has changed. Nothing.”

His former coach with the 49ers, Jim Harbaugh, offered him a coaching job with the Los Angeles Chargers, but Kaepernick claimed he was never informed of that opportunity.