Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick filed a grievance against league owners accusing them of collusion after launching his 2016 national anthem protest, eventually reaching a settlement in 2019. Kaepernick, who was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 2011, stated in a recent interview that the league attempted to penalize players who fought for systemic reform.
Colin Kaepernick Details Early Life and Adoption
Adopted as a baby into a white family, Kaepernick grew up in an almost entirely white town, according to his own accounts. At age eight, a group of older boys directed a racial slur at him and attempted to tie him to a tree. Kaepernick stated that he did not inform his parents about the incident because he felt instinctively that they would not believe a Black boy. He cleaned up, returned downstairs, and proceeded with his day, though the event left a lasting impact on his identity.
Football eventually provided a space for Kaepernick to understand his Blackness. According to the quarterback, sports offered an objective framework where outcomes relied strictly on performance rather than subjectivity. Teammates and their mothers offered guidance on navigating interactions with law enforcement and shared their own encounters with racism before he advanced to play college football for the University of Nevada, Reno.
The 2016 Anthem Protest and NFL Backlash
Kaepernick took a knee during the national anthem at the start of the 2016 NFL season to protest police violence against Black individuals, citing fatal shootings including those of Mario Woods in San Francisco, Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, and Philando Castile in a suburb of Saint Paul, Minn. “The treatment of Black people and the systems that have been built to continue to oppress Black people and people of color more broadly — that’s not something I was OK with,” Kaepernick said.
Following intense public criticism and the conclusion of the 2016 season, Kaepernick never played another NFL game. He subsequently pursued legal action against team owners for collusion, resulting in a 2019 settlement. In his memoir, The Perilous Fight, he recounts his path to the NFL and expresses his ongoing objective to return to professional football. “The NFL tried to send a very clear message that if you protest police killing Black folks, if you fight for a better society and better community, we’re going to try to take your career from you,” he stated.
Did you know? Colin Kaepernick played in the NFC championship games in 2013 and 2014, as well as the 2013 Super Bowl, before his protests sparked a league-wide debate over athlete activism.
Player Mentality and Media Coverage
Reflecting on the climate within professional sports, Kaepernick expressed astonishment at hearing a player state a need to ask a team owner for permission to protest. According to the former quarterback, this dynamic illustrates an environment where obedience is rewarded and dissent risks career termination. “I did not think in my lifetime I would hear a Black man say, ‘I need to ask my owner for permission,'” he noted.
Kaepernick also criticized mainstream media coverage of his demonstrations, arguing that the narrative frequently deflected attention away from police brutality and reframed the issue around respect for the flag, the military, or the method of protest. Despite these challenges, he acknowledged that certain journalists remained focused on the core objectives of the demonstrations.
Health Concerns Regarding Contact Football
Addressing safety concerns related to the sport, Kaepernick stated that he would avoid his kids playing football at all costs. Citing developmental research regarding brain impacts, he indicated that children should not play contact football until high school.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Colin Kaepernick stop playing in the NFL?
After kneeling during the national anthem in 2016 to protest police brutality, Kaepernick never played another NFL game following that season. He filed a collusion grievance against NFL owners, which ended in a 2019 settlement.
What is the title of Colin Kaepernick’s memoir?
His memoir is titled The Perilous Fight, in which he retraces his journey to the NFL and discusses his ongoing aspirations to play professional football again.
What specific incidents motivated Kaepernick’s protests?
Kaepernick pointed to several high-profile killings of Black individuals by police, including Mario Woods, Alton Sterling, and Philando Castile.
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