Colin Kaepernick

Colin Kaepernick, an American civil rights activist and former professional football quarterback, played for the San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League (NFL) from 2011 to 2016. He was named the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Offensive Player of the Year twice during his college football career at Nevada and holds the NFL records for the most rushing yards by a quarterback in a game and in a postseason. Kaepernick led the 49ers to their first Super Bowl appearance since 1994 during the 2012 season. Known for his speed and agility, Kaepernick set an NFL single-game record for most rushing yards by a quarterback with 181 during a playoff game against the Green Bay Packers.

Off the field, Kaepernick has been equally impactful. In 2016, he began kneeling during the national anthem at NFL games as a protest against police brutality and racial inequality. His protest received renewed attention during the George Floyd protests in 2020. Kaepernick's commitment to social justice extends into his philanthropic endeavors. He founded the "Know Your Rights Camp", an organization aimed at educating disadvantaged youths about self-empowerment, American history, and legal rights. In 2016, he pledged to donate $1 million to organizations working in oppressed communities.

Kaepernick's activism and his influence extend beyond the football field. He has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2017 GQ Magazine Citizen of the Year, the 2017 Sports Illustrated Muhammad Ali Legacy Award, and the 2018 Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience Award. In 2020, Kaepernick's publishing company launched "Abolition For The People", a project featuring 30 essays advocating for the abolition of police and prisons. He has also co-created and appeared in the Netflix series "Colin in Black & White".