“I Wasn’t Allowed the Opportunity”- Former San Francisco 49ers’ Pro Bowler Reveals Systematic Racism in NFL

During these times of tumult, people have been very vocal about their experiences with racial injustice. Former San Francisco 49ers Wide Receiver, Terrell Owens recently shared his personal experience with the same.

Tensions across the continental United States have been flaring ever since George Floyd’s untimely demise. The tragedy has sparked a series of protests against racial injustice and police brutality that have seen violence in a couple of states.

And unsurprisingly celebrities are no different, social media is brimming with high-profile individuals detailing their personal ordeals.

The former San Francisco 49ers WR stated that enduring criticism from team officials and the media inevitably led to the end of his career in the NFL.

He addressed the issue of being blunt while talking about particular issues with his teammates and the management and how this practice planted the seeds of animosity between them. The former WR stated that he wasn’t allowed the opportunity to grow as he was an African-American citizen.

“I could’ve continued to play, but because I was outspoken, because of who I was, I wasn’t allowed the opportunity,” Owens said.

San Francisco 49ers veteran blames the coaches for ending his career

Owens went on to criticize 49ers’ officials and coaches. He stated that some of the coaches said something wrong about him behind closed doors, and it reached the owners. Former NFL player claims that this marked the beginning of the end of his career.

According to Owens, it was systematic racism, and he experienced it when he was in San Francisco under former coach Steve Mariucci. “And to me, that was systemic racism. I experienced it when I was in San Francisco under coach [Steve] Mariucci. I experienced it. Trust me, I experienced it,” revealed the 46-year-old.

Owens had played eight seasons in the 49ers’ hallowed jersey. The San Francisco side picked him in the third round of NFL draft in 1996.

He later went on to play for the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills, and Cincinnati Bengals.

Owens became a Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee in 2018. However, he decided to hold his ceremony at his alma mater, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.