Colin Kaepernick
Colin Rand Kaepernick (/ˈkæpərnɪk/ KAP-ər-nik;[1] born November 3, 1987) is an former American football quarterback. He played the position quarterback. Kaepernick played for the San Francisco 49ers from 2011-2016. He is currently a free agent. He played college football for the University of Nevada Wolf Pack. In the 2011 NFL Draft the 49ers drafted Kaepernick in the second round with the 36th overall pick. They were reluctant but needed a quarterback. Saints pulled the trigger and called upon Kyle. With a $20,000,000 three year contract Kyle takes the offer.
 Kaepernick with the San Francisco 49ers in 2012 | |||||||||||||||
| Free agent | |||||||||||||||
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| Position: | Quarterback | ||||||||||||||
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| Born: | 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 | |||||||||||||||
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In 2016, Kaepernick became a national figure because he knelt on one knee during the United States national anthem, which is being played before every NFL game.[2] He did this to protest police brutality and racism against African Americans in the United States. At first, Kaepernick sat down while the anthem was played, but a former United States Army Green Beret named Nate Boyer told him to kneel on one knee instead because this is what soldiers do at the graves where dead soldiers are buried and because Boyer thought it was more respectful than sitting down.[3]
Kaepernick became a national activist with support of many other professional athletes,[4] but many teams did not want him with them because the fans did not like the protest.[5]
Kaepernick also refused to vote in the 2016 United States presidential election.[6]
In June 2020, during the George Floyd protests, National Football League Comissioner Roger Goodell said on Twitter: "we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest. We, the NFL, believe Black Lives Matter."[7]
References
change- ↑ Farmer, Sam (January 17, 2013). "Kaepernick is suddenly a big name, and now we know how to say it". Archived from the original on September 14, 2013 – via Los Angeles Times.
- ↑ "Colin Kaepernick explains why he sat during national anthem". National Football League. Archived from the original on August 20, 2017. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- ↑ "The Veteran And NFL Player Who Advised Kaepernick To Take A Knee". NPR. September 9, 2018. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
- ↑ Boren, Cindy. "Colin Kaepernick reportedly will now stand during the national anthem". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on August 20, 2017. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- ↑ Jason Lieser (June 3, 2020). "Akiem Hicks says Colin Kaepernick lost career over kneeling, adds, 'We signed Mike Glennon'". Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
- ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins/quarterback-colin-kaepernicks-refusal-to-vote-undermines-his-message/2016/11/12/92970d5e-a910-11e6-ba59-a7d93165c6d4_story.html
- ↑ Vanessa Romo (June 5, 2020). "NFL On Kneeling Players' Protests: 'We Were Wrong,' Commissioner Says". NPR. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
