Colin Kaepernick Stands by Protest Despite Career Consequences

Ten years after kneeling during the U.S. national anthem, Colin Kaepernick stated he "would absolutely do it again," maintaining he has no regrets about the protest that he believes led to his exile from the NFL. The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback first knelt during the anthem in September 2016 as a peaceful demonstration against racial injustice and police brutality.

Kaepernick explained that he knew the protest could potentially cost him his career, drawing parallels to the severe consequences faced by activists like Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. He initially sat to protest the plight of Black people in the U.S. and began kneeling before games, stating he could not stand for a flag representing a country that oppresses people of color. "This is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way," he said.

His stance, while inspiring to many and prompting other NFL players to follow suit, also drew condemnation. Then-presidential candidate Donald Trump described the act as "a terrible thing" and unpatriotic, suggesting Kaepernick should be fired. The NFL later stated it would fine teams whose players did not stand for the anthem.

Kaepernick opted out of his contract with the 49ers in March 2017. Despite his past success, including leading the team to the Super Bowl in 2013, he has not been signed by an NFL team since. He filed a grievance against NFL owners, alleging they conspired to prevent him from being hired due to his protests, eventually reaching a financial settlement in 2019. The NFL has since acknowledged it was "wrong for not listening to players earlier" and encouraged peaceful protest.

The act of taking a knee gained wider prominence following the murder of George Floyd in 2020, becoming a symbol of Black Lives Matter protests and adopted by sports teams globally, including England's national football teams. Kaepernick expressed humility and happiness at seeing these international demonstrations.

Despite a decade of activism and a memoir detailing his journey, Kaepernick acknowledges that the momentum behind athlete activism may have slowed. He suggested that concerted efforts by organizations like the NFL and the Trump administration have contributed to this, but believes the current state of the U.S. and the world demands continued and significant protest.

Addressing criticisms that sport and politics should remain separate, Kaepernick countered that politics is inherently part of sports, citing taxpayer funding for stadiums and owners' political donations. He stated that the resistance often stems from a desire to separate entertainment from political engagement.

Kaepernick, who has published a memoir titled "The Perilous Fight," continues to support community organizations through his Know Your Rights campaign and maintains his fitness regimen in the hope of an eventual return to the NFL. He is widely seen as a significant figure in modern sports activism, drawing comparisons to Muhammad Ali and Olympians Tommie Smith and John Carlos. "What can we do to help people? And how do we collectively move forward as a society? And, ultimately, how we build a society that works for everybody," he stated, emphasizing the need for equity and addressing people's needs.