NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has ‘encouraged’ teams to sign former San Francisco 49ers quarter-back Colin Kaepernick.

The 32 year-old has been absent from the league for three years since taking a knee during the national anthem in 2016 in protest against police brutality and racism in the US.

But now, in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement across the globe, Goodell insists he would welcome a team’s decision to sign Kaepernick.

He said: "Well, listen, if he wants to resume his career in the NFL, then obviously it's gonna take a team to make that decision.

"But I welcome that, support a club making that decision and encourage them to do that.

"If his efforts are not on the field but continuing to work in this space, we welcome him to that table and to help us, guide us, help us make better decisions about the kinds of things that need to be done in the communities.

"We have invited him in before, and we want to make sure that everybody's welcome at that table and trying to help us deal with some very complex, difficult issues that have been around for a long time.

"But I hope we're at a point now where everybody's committed to making long-term, sustainable change.

"If his efforts are not on the field but continuing to work in this space, we welcome him to that table and to help us, guide us, help us make better."

The NFL season is scheduled to being on September 10.

Last week, President Donald Trump hinted he would not be watching the NFL or US soccer anymore due to the fact that players were planning to kneel during the national anthem.