Colin Kaepernick

Colin Kaepernick
refer to caption
Kaepernick with the San Francisco 49ers in 2012
Free agent
Position: Quarterback
Personal information
Born: (1987-11-03) November 3, 1987
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Height: 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight: 230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High school: John H. Pitman
(Turlock, California)
College: Nevada
NFL Draft: 2011 / Round: 2 / Pick: 36
Career history
Career highlights and awards
  • 2× WAC Offensive Player of the Year (2008, 2010)
Career NFL statistics as of 2016
TD–Int: 72–30
Passing yards: 12,271
Completion percentage: 59.8
Passer rating: 88.9
Rushing yards: 2,300
Rushing touchdowns: 13
Player stats at NFL.com

Colin Rand Kaepernick (/ˈkæpərnɪk/ KAP-ər-nik;[1] born November 3, 1987) is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. Kaepernick played college football for the University of Nevada in Reno, where he was named the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Offensive Player of the Year twice and became the only player in NCAA Division I FBS history to amass 10,000 passing yards and 4,000 rushing yards in a career. After graduating, he was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

Kaepernick began his professional football career as a backup quarterback to Alex Smith, and became the 49ers' starter in the middle of the 2012 season after Smith suffered a concussion. He then remained the team's starting quarterback for the rest of the season, leading the team to their first Super Bowl appearance since 1994. During the 2013 season, his first full season as a starter, Kaepernick helped the 49ers reach the NFC Championship Game. Over the next three seasons, Kaepernick lost and won back his starting job, with the 49ers missing the playoffs for three years consecutively. He opted out of his contract with the 49ers to become a free agent after the 2016 season.

In 2016, Kaepernick became a national figure when he ignited a firestorm of controversy by choosing to kneel on one knee rather than stand while the United States national anthem was being played before the start of NFL games. He described his behavior as a protest against racial injustice in the United States.[2][3] His actions prompted negative and positive responses. The negative responses included suggestions that players who protest should be fired;[4] other people displayed their disapproval of players' protests by leaving the stadium immediately after the protests or refusing to watch games at all.[5][6] Positive responses included similar activity by additional athletes in the NFL and other American sports leagues protesting in various ways during the anthem. In November 2017, Kaepernick filed a grievance against the NFL and its owners, accusing them of colluding to not hire him. In 2018, Amnesty International awarded Kaepernick with that year's Ambassador of Conscience award. In 2018 Kaepernick was awarded the W.E.B. Du Bois Medal.

Early life

Kaepernick was born in 1987 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Heidi Russo, a 19-year-old woman who was single at the time.[7][8] His birth father separated from Russo before Kaepernick was born.[9][10] Russo placed Kaepernick for adoption with Rick and Teresa Kaepernick, a couple who had two older children, son Kyle and daughter Devon. The Kaepernicks decided to adopt a boy after losing two other sons to heart defects.[9][11] Kaepernick is of mixed race heritage. His biological mother is white.[12]

Kaepernick lived in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, until age four, and attended grade school in Turlock, California.[13][14] When he was eight years old, Kaepernick began playing youth football as a defensive end and punter. At age nine, he was the starting quarterback on his youth team, and he completed his first pass for a long touchdown.[13] A 4.0 GPA student[15] at John H. Pitman High School in Turlock, California, Kaepernick played football, basketball and baseball and was nominated for All-State selection in all three sports his senior year. He was the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Central California Conference in football, leading his school to its first-ever playoff victory. In basketball, he was a first-team all CCC selection at forward and led his 16th-ranked team to a near upset of #1 ranked Oak Ridge High School in the opening round of playoffs. In that game, Kaepernick scored 34 points, but future NBA player Ryan Anderson of Oak Ridge scored 50 to lead the Oak Ridge Trojans to victory over John Pitman High School.[16]

College career

Recruitment

Kaepernick received most of his high school accolades as a baseball pitcher. He received several scholarship offers in that sport,[13] but he desperately wanted to play college football. As a senior, he was almost 6' 5" but weighed only 170 pounds (77 kg), and his coaches generally kept him from running the ball in order to limit his risk of injury.[14] Despite his strong arm, he had poor throwing mechanics.[13] During his junior year, Larry Nigro—Pitman's head coach at the time—made a highlight tape that Kaepernick's brother, Kyle, copied to DVD, then sent to about 100 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS, then known as Division I-A) programs. Kaepernick received some interest but no scholarship offers.[13] Even as a senior, he received little attention from FBS schools. Although the University of Nevada, Reno coaching staff frequently watched video of his high school team, no one from the Nevada Wolf Pack football staff came to Turlock to see him play during his senior football season.[14] Nevada head coach Chris Ault decided to offer him a scholarship after one of his assistants, Barry Sacks, saw Kaepernick dominate a high school basketball game on an evening he was suffering from a fever of 102 °F (39 °C). Nevada was the only school to offer him a football scholarship, but was concerned that he would opt for baseball until he signed in February 2006.[14]

Baseball

Kaepernick was a two-time California all-state baseball player and was listed as a draftable prospect on Major League Baseball's website in the class of 2006. He earned Northern California athlete of the week honors as a pitcher. As a senior in high school, he threw a 92 mph (148 km/h) fastball, as reported during Kaepernick's first college football start in 2007 against Boise State.[17] He was also a member of the Brewers Grey squad in the 2005 Area Code games. In his senior year of high school Kaepernick had an ERA of 1.265 with 13 starts and 10 complete games. He finished the year with an 11–2 record with 97 strikeouts and 39 walks.

In the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft, Kaepernick was drafted in the 43rd round by the Chicago Cubs.[18] He decided that he wanted to continue to play football at the University of Nevada and chose not to sign with the Cubs.[19]

American football

2007

Kaepernick started his college career at Nevada playing in 11 of the team's 13 games. He finished the season with 19 passing touchdowns, three interceptions, and 2,175 passing yards with a 53.8% completion percentage.[20] Kaepernick also added 593 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns as the Nevada Wolf Pack finished 6-7.[21]

2008

As a sophomore, Kaepernick became just the fifth player in NCAA history to pass for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 or more yards in a single season. Some of his notable statistical achievements were:

  • Only NCAA quarterback in 2008 to pass for 2,500 or more yards and rush for 1,000 or more yards.
  • Ranked second among all NCAA QB's in rushing yardage with 1,130.
  • Ranked seventh among all NCAA players with 7.02 yards per carry.
  • Was tied ninth among all NCAA players with 17 rushing TD's.

Kaepernick, with 1,130 rushing yards, and running back Vai Taua, with 1,521 rushing yards, made 2008 the first year in school history that Nevada had two 1,000-yard rushers in the same season.[22]

Despite playing the entire second half with an ankle injury, he set a new Humanitarian Bowl record with 370 yards passing and was awarded the MVP in a losing effort. He was named the WAC Offensive Player of the Year at the end of the season. He was the first sophomore to win this award since Marshall Faulk of San Diego State did in 1992. He was also named first team All-WAC quarterback.

2009

Kaepernick was named the pre-season WAC Offensive Player of the Year at the WAC Media's event in July. On August 3 it was announced he was named to the Davey O'Brien Award pre-season watch list. On August 14 it was announced that he was named to the pre-season Maxwell Award watch list and on August 17 to the Manning Award watch list. Kaepernick led the Wolf Pack to an 8–5 record and a second-place finish in the WAC behind undefeated Boise State. He was named second team All-WAC quarterback. He was the first player in Nevada history to earn the team's MVP award twice, doing so in 2008 as well.

He finished the 2009 season with 2,052 passing yards and 1,183 rushing yards.[23] He became the first player in NCAA history to record back-to-back 2,000/1,000 yard seasons. His 1,183 rush yards along with Luke Lippincott's 1,034 and Vai Taua's 1,345 makes him a part of the first trio of teammates in NCAA history to rush for 1,000 yards each in the same season.

2010

Passing against Hawaii in 2010

Entering the 2010 NCAA season, Kaepernick ranked first among active college football players in rushing touchdowns. He was second in yards-per-carry (behind Wolf Pack teammate Vai Taua), total offense-per-game, and touchdowns scored. He ranked third in yards-per-play and fourth in pass touchdowns and total number of offensive plays. He was a counselor at the prestigious Manning Passing Academy event in Thibodaux, Louisiana, during the 2010 camp. His performance drew praise from various NFL and ESPN personnel including former New York Giants quarterback Jesse Palmer who said of Kaepernick, "by far, the strongest arm in the camp".[24]

Kaepernick in 2010

It was also announced that Kaepernick, along with teammates Taua and Lippincott, would have a display in the College Football Hall of Fame commemorating their being the first players in NCAA history to each break 1,000 yards rushing on the same team during the same season.[25] Kaepernick was named to the watch list for six major college football awards: the Manning Award, the Davey O'Brien Award, the Paul Hornung Award, the Maxwell Award, the Unitas Award, and the Walter Camp Award.

On November 26, Kaepernick led his team to a 34–31 overtime victory against the previously undefeated Boise State Broncos, snapping a 24-game win streak that had dated back to the 2008 Poinsettia Bowl.[26] This game was played on Nevada's senior night, the final home game for Kaepernick. Nevada Head Coach Chris Ault would later call this game the "most important win in program history". During this game, Kaepernick surpassed 1,000 rushing yards for this season, becoming the first player in NCAA history to have over 2,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing for three consecutive seasons. Along with Taua's 131 yards rushing in the game, the duo became the NCAA's all-time leaders in rushing yards by teammates (8,285) passing the legendary SMU "Pony Express" duo of Eric Dickerson and Craig James (8,193).[27]

On December 4 against Louisiana Tech University, Kaepernick joined Florida's Tim Tebow as the second quarterback in FBS history to throw for 20 touchdowns and run for 20 in the same season. Later that same evening, Auburn's Cam Newton joined Tebow and Kaepernick as the third. Kaepernick's three rushing touchdowns in that game also placed him in a tie with former Nebraska quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch for most rushing touchdowns in FBS history by a quarterback with 59 in his career.[28] Nevada claimed a share of the WAC title after defeating Louisiana Tech. Kaeperick was named WAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year with Kellen Moore, who won the award in 2009.[29]

Kaepernick is the only quarterback in the history of Division I FBS college football to have passed for over 10,000 yards and rushed for over 4,000 yards in a collegiate career. He is also the only Division I FBS quarterback to have passed for over 2,000 yards and rushed for over 1,000 yards in a single season three times in a career (consecutively).

Kaepernick graduated from Nevada in December 2010 with a bachelor's degree in business management and is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.

Statistics

PassingRushing
SeasonTeamGPAttCompComp %YardsTDINTRATAttYardsAvgTD
2006Nevada–
Redshirt
2007Nevada1124713353.8%2,175193150.81055935.66
2008Nevada1338320854.3%2,849227132.11611,1307.017
2009Nevada1328216658.9%2,052206139.11611,1837.316
2010Nevada1435923364.9%3,022218150.51731,2067.020
Career1,27174058.2%10,0988224142.56004,1126.959

Professional career

Upon graduation, Kaepernick signed with XAM Sports and Entertainment. He spent time in Atlanta, Georgia, training for the NFL Scouting Combine at Competitive Edge Sports with trainer Chip Smith and quarterbacks coach Roger Theder.

2011 NFL Draft

Pre-draft measurables
Ht Wt Arm length Hand size 40-yard dash 10-yd split 20-yd split 20-ss 3-cone Vert jump Broad BP Wonderlic
6 ft 4 5⁄8 in
(1.95 m)		 233 lb
(106 kg)		 33 1⁄2 in
(0.85 m)		 9 1⁄8 in
(0.23 m)		 4.53 s 1.62 s 2.63 s 4.18 s 6.85 s 32 1⁄2 in
(0.83 m)		 9 ft 7 in
(2.92 m)		 x reps 37
All values from NFL Combine[30]

On April 29, 2011, the San Francisco 49ers traded up with the Denver Broncos from the thirteenth pick in the second round (45th overall) to select Kaepernick as the fourth pick in the second round (36th overall) at the 2011 NFL draft.[31] The Broncos received picks 45, 108, and 141 overall in exchange for the 36th overall pick.

San Francisco 49ers

2011 season

For the 2011 preseason, Kaepernick completed 24-of-50 passes for 257 yards and five interceptions.[32] Kaepernick spent the 2011 season as backup to Alex Smith and played his first game in Week 4 (October 2) on the road against the Philadelphia Eagles.[32] On third down and 17 during the first quarter, he came in for Smith as quarterback with the offense in shotgun formation and handed off to Frank Gore, who ran for five yards.[33] In the Week 5 (October 9) home game, a 48–3 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kaepernick completed three passes for 35 yards.[34] However, he failed to complete two passes in the 49ers' Week 13 (December 4) game, a 26–0 win over the St. Louis Rams.[32] The 49ers finished the 2011 regular season 13–3 but lost the NFC championship to the eventual Super Bowl XLVI champion New York Giants by a score of 20–17.[35]

2012 season

Kaepernick in Super Bowl XLVII

In 2012 against the New York Jets, Kaepernick scored his first career touchdown on a seven-yard run.[36] Throughout the early season, Kaepernick was used as a wildcat quarterback.[37] In Week 10 against the St. Louis Rams, Kaepernick replaced starter Alex Smith, who had suffered a concussion in the first half. However, the game would end in a rare 24–24 tie, the first tie in the NFL in four years.[38]

With Smith still recovering, Kaepernick got his first NFL start the next game on November 19, during a Monday Night Football game against the Chicago Bears at Candlestick Park.[39] Kaepernick completed 16-of-23 for 246 yards with two touchdowns in a 32–7 win against a highly ranked Bears defense. 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh spoke highly of Kaepernick's performance after the game, leaving open the possibility of Kaepernick continuing to start. "Usually tend to go with the guy who's got the hot hand, and we've got two quarterbacks that have got a hot hand", Harbaugh said.[40] A quarterback controversy began. Smith was ranked third in the NFL in passer rating (104.1), led the league in completion percentage (70%), and had been 19–5–1 as a starter under Harbaugh, while Kaepernick was considered more dynamic with his scrambling ability and arm strength.[41][42]

Smith was cleared to play the day before the following game, but Harbaugh chose not to rush him back and again started Kaepernick. In a rematch of the 2012 playoffs against the New Orleans Saints, the 49ers won 31–21 with Kaepernick throwing for a touchdown and running for another.[43][44] The following week, Harbaugh announced that Kaepernick would start for the 8–2–1 49ers against St. Louis. Harbaugh stated that Kaepernick's assignment was week-to-week, not necessarily permanent,[45] but he remained the starter for the rest of the season.

In his first career postseason start, the 49ers won 45–31 against the Green Bay Packers, and he set an NFL single-game record for most rushing yards by a quarterback with 181, breaking Michael Vick's record of 173 in a 2002 regular season game.[46] He also broke the 49ers postseason rushing record, regardless of position.[47] Kaepernick carried the ball 16 times for 181 yards and scrambled five times for 75 yards, including touchdowns of 20 and 56 yards, and collected another 99 yards rushing on zone-read option plays. He also passed for 263 yards and two touchdowns. In total, Kaepernick had 444 yards of total offense with four touchdowns. Kaepernick became the third player after Jay Cutler in 2011 and Otto Graham in both 1954 and 1955 to run for two touchdowns and pass for two others in a playoff game.[46] In the NFC Championship game, the 49ers defeated the Atlanta Falcons 28–24 with Kaepernick completing 16-of-21 passes for 233 yards and one touchdown.[48] The team advanced to Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans against the Baltimore Ravens. Kaepernick threw for a touchdown and ran for another, but the 49ers fell behind early and could not come back, losing by a score of 31–34.[49]

2013 season

Kaepernick playing against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2013.

In the season opener of the 2013 season against the Green Bay Packers, Kaepernick threw for a career-high 412 yards and three touchdowns, the first 400-yard game by a 49ers quarterback since Tim Rattay on October 10, 2004.[50] Of the total 412 yards, 208 yards were to newly acquired teammate Anquan Boldin, making his debut as a 49er. In addition, Kaepernick's performance also marked the first 400-yard passing with three touchdowns performance by a 49ers quarterback since Jeff Garcia in the 1999 season.

In the NFC Championship Game against eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, Kaepernick rushed for 130 yards, including a 58-yard run, and passed for 153 yards. The 49ers led until the fourth quarter. Two turnovers by Kaepernick led to the Seahawks having a 23–17 lead with a few minutes left. Kaepernick drove the 49ers to the red zone but with 22 seconds left, Kaepernick's pass intended for Michael Crabtree was tipped by Seattle's Richard Sherman and intercepted by Malcolm Smith, ending the 49ers' season and attempt to return to the Super Bowl.[51] Kaepernick ended the season with 3,197 yards passing, 21 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions. He also finished with 524 yards rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns.[52]

2014 season

On June 4, Kaepernick signed a six-year contract extension with the 49ers, worth up to $126 million, including $54 million in potential guarantees, and $13 million fully guaranteed.[53]

On September 17, Kaepernick was fined by the NFL for using inappropriate language on the field.[54] On October 9, he was fined $10,000 by the NFL for appearing at a post-game press conference wearing headphones from Beats by Dre, while the league's headphone sponsor was Bose.[55] In a game against the San Diego Chargers, he ran for a 90-yard touchdown.[56] The 49ers finished the season 8–8 and failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2010.[57] Kaepernick threw for 3,369 yards with 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He rushed for 639 yards and one touchdown.[58] Following the season, head coach Jim Harbaugh left to coach the University of Michigan.[59]

2015 season

In 2015, Kaepernick struggled under new head coach Jim Tomsula. A day after a 27–6 collapse at St. Louis in Week 8, Kaepernick lost his starting job to backup Blaine Gabbert for Week 9 against Atlanta.[60] With Gabbert starting as their new quarterback, the 49ers narrowly won 17–16. On November 21, the 49ers announced that Kaepernick would miss the rest of the season because of an injured left shoulder that required surgery.[61] He finished the season with 1,615 yards passing, six passing touchdowns, five interceptions and 256 rushing yards with one rushing touchdown.[62]

Head coach Tomsula was fired following the season and the 49ers hired Chip Kelly as his replacement.[63] In February 2016, Kaepernick expressed an interest in being traded.[64]

2016 season

Kaepernick entered the 2016 season competing for starting quarterback position with Gabbert.[65] On September 3, 2016, 49ers head coach Chip Kelly named Gabbert as the starter for the beginning of the 2016 season.[66] Prior to the 49ers Week 6 game against the Buffalo Bills, Kelly announced Kaepernick would start, marking his first start of the season. On October 13, it was announced that he and the 49ers restructured his contract, turning it into a two-year deal with a player option for the next season.[67] He completed 13-of-29 passes, with 187 passing yards, one passing touchdown and 66 rushing yards in the 49ers 45-16 loss to the Buffalo Bills.[68] On November 27, he recorded 296 passing yards, three passing touchdowns and 113 yards rushing in the 49ers' 24-31 loss to the Miami Dolphins.[69] He joined Michael Vick, Cam Newton, Randall Cunningham, and Marcus Mariota as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to record at least three passing touchdowns and 100 yards rushing in a game. In a Week 13 loss to the Chicago Bears, Kaepernick threw a career-low four yards before getting benched for Gabbert.[70] He returned to the starting lineup the following week and threw for 183 yards and two touchdowns in the 49ers' 13-41 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.[71] On December 24, Kaepernick recorded 281 total yards, two passing touchdowns, one interception, one rushing touchdown, and a two-point conversion on the game-winning drive as the 49ers beat the Los Angeles Rams 22-21 to get their first victory on the season with Kaepernick as the starter.[72] For the 2016 NFL season, Kaepernick played twelve games and ended the season with 2,241 passing yards, sixteen passing touchdowns, four interceptions and added 468 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.[73]

On March 3, 2017, Kaepernick officially opted out of his contract with the 49ers, an option as part of his restructured contract, therefore making him a free agent at the start of the 2017 league year.[74]

Professional statistics

Regular season

Year Team Games Passing[75] Rushing Sacked Fumbles Record
GGSCompAttPctYdsAvgTDIntRtgAttYdsAvgTDSackYdsFumLostWin-Loss
2011SF 303560.0357.00081.22−2−1.0000000–0
2012SF 13713621862.41,8148.310398.3634156.6516112925–2
2013SF 161624341658.43,1977.721891.6925245.74392316412–4
2014SF 161628947860.53,3697.0191086.41046396.1152344858–8
2015SF 9814424459.01,6156.66578.5452565.7128166512–6
2016SF 121119633159.22,2416.816490.7694686.8236207931–10
Total69581,0111,69259.812,2717.3723088.93752,3006.1131711,060371528–30

Playoffs

Year Team G GS Passing[75] Rushing Sacked Fumbles Record
CompAttPctYdsY/ATDIntRtgAttYdsAvgTDSackYdsFumLostW/L (as starter)
2012SF 33498061.379810.042100.92526410.63532102–1
2013SF 33458254.95767.03374.0262439.31626312–1
Total‡669416258.01,3748.57587.3515079.941158414–2

U.S. national anthem protest

2016

In the 49ers third preseason game of the 2016 season, Kaepernick was noticed sitting down during the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" as opposed to the tradition of standing. During a post-game interview, he explained his position stating, "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder", referencing a series of events that led to the Black Lives Matter movement and adding that he would continue to protest until he feels like "[the American flag] represents what it's supposed to represent".[76][77][78] In the 49ers' fourth and final preseason game of 2016, Kaepernick opted to kneel during the U.S. national anthem rather than sit as he did in their previous games. He explained his decision to switch was an attempt to show more respect to former and current U.S. military members while still protesting during the anthem after having a conversation with former NFL player and U.S. military veteran Nate Boyer.[79] After the September 2016 police shootings of Terence Crutcher and Keith Lamont Scott,[80] Kaepernick commented publicly on the shootings saying, "this is a perfect example of what this is about".[81]

Kaepernick soon became highly polarizing as numerous people took public stances either supporting or maligning Kaepernick's actions; in many cases this polarization correlates with racial divisions.[82] Various members of the NFL and other athletes across the United States, such as American professional soccer player Megan Rapinoe, also began kneeling and/or raising their fist like the 1968 Olympics Black Power salute during the playing of the U.S. national anthem.[83][84][85] Some U.S. military veterans voiced support using the social media hashtag "#VeteransForKaepernick".[86] In the following weeks, Kaepernick's jersey became the top-selling jersey on the NFL's official shop website.[87] An NFL fan poll was taken during the beginning of the 2016 NFL season and Kaepernick was voted the most disliked player in the NFL; this poll was polarized, with 37% of Caucasians disliking him "a lot", and 42% of African-Americans liking him "a lot."[82] A few people posted videos of them burning Kaepernick jerseys. Former NFL MVP Boomer Esiason called Kaepernick's actions "an embarrassment" while an anonymous NFL executive called Kaepernick "a traitor".[88] The 2016 NFL season also saw a significant drop in their television ratings. Polls suggest that fans boycotting the NFL because of Kaepernick-inspired protests were a contributor to the decline in viewers.[89] He also stated that he received death threats.[81]

In September 2016, sociology professor Michael Eric Dyson wrote of the double bind faced by black people: "Black folk have, throughout history, displayed their patriotism by criticizing the nation for its shortcomings, and they have been, in turn, roundly criticized." Dyson suggested that the wisdom of the abolitionist Frederick Douglass maintains relevance to racism in the context of Kaepernick and protest.[90] Dyson concluded, "When a black athlete bravely speaks up, we punish him."

2017

In August 2017, former NYPD officer Frank Serpico gave a speech live on Facebook and stood with police officers at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge in support of Kaepernick.[91][92] The same month, Pro Football Hall of Famer and longtime civil rights activist Jim Brown told an interviewer that while he "wants to be in [Kaepernick's] corner", he would never "desecrate my flag and my national anthem."[93]

In September 2017, President Donald Trump sent out multiple tweets, in which he advocated that NFL players should be either fired or suspended if they fail to stand up for the national anthem. In response, many NFL teams and players stood together to protest against Trump's opinion. The players knelt, locked arms, or remained in the locker room during the playing of the anthem.[94]

2018

In September 2018, Nike included Kaepernick in its 30th anniversary ad campaign of its Just Do It slogan.[95] The company, which supplies game-day uniforms and sideline apparel for the NFL's 32 teams, also agreed to donate to Kaepernick's "Know Your Rights" campaign.[96]

Controversy over free agency

Following his departure from the 49ers, Kaepernick went unsigned through the off-season and 2017 training camps, leading to allegations that he was being blackballed because of his on-field political actions, as opposed to his performance,[97][98][99][97] a notion supported by Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman.[100] Other players, including New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback and former teammate Alex Smith, have stated that they believe his sporting ability is competitive in the NFL, and they are incredulous of his prolonged unemployment,[101][102] while former quarterback Michael Vick argued that he was not signed because his performance had declined.[103] Outside of the NFL, President Donald Trump claimed that Kaepernick's situation was caused by a fear that he would use Twitter to create a public relations crisis for any team that signed him.[104][105] Kyle Wagner of FiveThirtyEight analysed his recent performance and found that no above-average QB of his level stays unemployed that long, implying that the reason must not be a sporting one.[106] Dan Graziano of ESPN reasoned that the issue dealt more with labor and management battles rather than Kaepernick's beliefs or performance.[107]

In late July and early August 2017, the Baltimore Ravens were reportedly working to extend an offer to Kaepernick. According to former Ravens player Ray Lewis; the offer was terminated after Kaepernick's girlfriend Nessa Diab– who works as a radio host –posted an incendiary tweet that compared Ravens team owner Steve Bisciotti to a slave owner, and player Ray Lewis to a slave. Other reports, however, stated that Bisciotti had been objecting to signing Kaepernick before the incident.[108][109] A high-ranking member of the military had also raised concerns about bringing the polarizing quarterback to Baltimore.[110]

In November 2017, Kaepernick filed a grievance against the NFL, alleging that NFL owners colluded to keep him out of the league.[111] In August 2018 it was reported that system arbitrator Stephen B. Burbank denied the NFL's request to dismiss the case,[112] the decision meant there was sufficient evidence for the case to go to trial.[113]

Activism

In 2016, after kneeling during the playing of the U.S. national anthem prior to NFL games in protest to what he believed to be racial injustices against black Americans, Kaepernick pledged to donate one million dollars to "organizations working in oppressed communities."[114] In 2018, Kaepernick announced that he would make the final $100,000 donation of his "Million Dollar Pledge" in the form of $10,000 donations to charities that would be matched by celebrities.[115]

In 2017, Kaepernick was named GQ magazine's "Citizen of the Year" for his efforts.[116]

In November 2017, Kaepernick was honored with the 2017 Sports Illustrated Muhammad Ali Legacy Award by presenter Beyoncé. Muhammad Ali was heavily penalized in his career for protesting the status quo of US civil rights through opposition to the Vietnam War, by refusing to serve in the military. Forty years later, Kaepernick had already lost one professional year due to taking a much quieter and legal stand "for people that are oppressed." Ali's widow, Lonnie Ali, was consulted and, in a statement to Sports Illustrated, drew parallels between the two athletic civil rights activists:

"I am proud to be able to present this to Colin for his passionate defense of social justice and civil rights for all people... Like Muhammad, Colin is a man who stands on his convictions with confidence and courage, undaunted by the personal sacrifices he has had to make to have his message heard. And he has used his celebrity and philanthropy to the benefit of some of our most vulnerable community members." — Lonnie Ali, (Facts and quote as reported by Michael Rosenberg) Sports illustrated, November 30, 2017.

In April 2018, Amnesty International honored Kaepernick with the 2018 Ambassador of Conscience Award. The award celebrates 'individuals and groups who speak out for justice'. In a statement about the award, Kaepernick stated that Amnesty's award was one shared "with all of the countless people throughout the world combating the human rights violations of police officers, and their uses of oppressive and excessive force".[117]

On October 11 2018 Kaepernick was awarded the W.E.B. Du Bois Medal. The Medal is awarded by the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research at Harvard University to individuals who "have made significant contributions to African and African-American history and culture, and more broadly, are individuals who advocate for intercultural understanding and human rights in an increasingly global and interconnected world."[118]

Personal life

Kaepernick was baptized Methodist, confirmed Lutheran, and attended a Baptist church during his college years.[119] Kaepernick spoke about his faith saying, "My faith is the basis from where my game comes from. I've been very blessed to have the talent to play the game that I do and be successful at it. I think God guides me through every day and helps me take the right steps and has helped me to get to where I'm at. When I step on the field, I always say a prayer, say I am thankful to be able to wake up that morning and go out there and try to glorify the Lord with what I do on the field. I think if you go out and try to do that, no matter what you do on the field, you can be happy about what you did."[120]

Kaepernick has multiple tattoos. His right arm features a scroll with the Bible verse Psalm 18:39 written on it. Tattooed under the scroll are praying hands with the phrase "To God The Glory" written on them. To the left of both the scroll and praying hands is the word "Faith" written vertically. His left arm features a Christian cross with the words "Heaven Sent" on it referring to Jesus. Written above and below the cross is the phrase "God Will Guide Me". Written to the left and right of the cross is the Bible verse Psalm 27:3. His chest features the phrase "Against All Odds" and artwork around it that represents "inner strength, spiritual growth, and humility". His back features a mural of angels against demons.[121][122][123] Near the end of the 2012 NFL season, Kaepernick's signature touchdown celebration involved flexing and kissing the bicep of his right arm. Kaepernick says he kisses his "Faith", "To God The Glory", and Psalm 18:39 tattoos and the reason he does the celebration is because "God has brought me this far. He has laid out a phenomenal path for me. And I can't do anything but thank Him."[121]

Kaepernick reportedly started dating radio personality and television host Nessa Diab in July 2015,[124] and officially went public about their relationship in February 2016.[125] Kaepernick began following a vegan diet in late 2015.[126]

References

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Further reading

  • Branch, John (September 7, 2017). "The Awakening of Colin Kaepernick". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
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