Colin Kaepernick reflects on courage
Colin Kaepernick reflected on courage and his 2016 national anthem protest during CultureCon in Brooklyn on Oct. 3, 2026. The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback also discussed his memoir, The Perilous Fight.
Kaepernick described courage as staying true to one’s principles, goals, and causes with integrity under pressure. His comments came 10 years after his protest against racial injustice and police brutality became a major national story during the 2016 season.
Kaepernick first sat during the anthem
Colin Kaepernick’s protest began on Aug. 14, 2016, when he sat during the national anthem before a San Francisco preseason game. The action initially attracted little public attention and continued during later preseason games.
His protest drew widespread attention after the Aug. 26 game against Green Bay. Kaepernick then explained that he was protesting oppression and the treatment of Black people and other people of color in the United States.
Kaepernick switched to kneeling
Colin Kaepernick changed his protest from sitting to kneeling in 2016. In his 2026 memoir, he says teammate Eric Reid proposed kneeling before they met with former Green Beret Nate Boyer.
Safety Eric Reid joined Kaepernick in kneeling before San Francisco’s Sept. 1, 2016, preseason game in San Diego. Boyer stood nearby during the anthem after speaking with Kaepernick before the game that evening.
Kaepernick explains his protest decision
Colin Kaepernick revisited the origins of his 2016 protest in his memoir, The Perilous Fight. The book describes experiences and concerns about racial injustice that shaped his thinking before his demonstration drew national attention.
Kaepernick was 38 when the memoir was released on Sept. 15, 2026. The book recounts his football career, personal experiences, and the events surrounding the national anthem protest that shaped his public activism.
Kaepernick recalls players’ concerns
Colin Kaepernick said in September 2026 that he was disappointed more NFL players did not protest alongside him. He recalled players saying agents, relatives, or team officials had advised them against participating in similar demonstrations.
Kaepernick also said that no one from the NFL or any team directly ordered him to stop. He described receiving indirect suggestions to consider other approaches while he continued protesting during the 2016 professional football season.
Kaepernick filed an NFL grievance
Colin Kaepernick last played for an NFL team in the 2016 season with the San Francisco 49ers. After becoming a free agent in 2017, he remained unsigned and filed a grievance alleging that NFL teams colluded to prevent his employment.
Former teammate Eric Reid later filed a similar grievance after going unsigned during free agency. The NFL, Kaepernick, and Reid announced a confidential settlement resolving their pending grievances in February 2019 without disclosing financial terms.
Kaepernick stopped watching NFL games
Colin Kaepernick said in September 2026 that he no longer watches NFL games while maintaining that the league continues to blackball him. He said he watches college football instead and remains focused on other work.
Kaepernick has not appeared in an NFL game since the 2016 season. He continued pursuing football opportunities afterward, including a 2022 workout with the Las Vegas Raiders, but did not return to an NFL roster.
Kaepernick reached the Super Bowl
Colin Kaepernick led San Francisco to Super Bowl XLVII following the 2012 season. He completed 16 of 28 passes for 302 yards and rushed 7 times for 62 yards against the Baltimore Ravens.
The Ravens defeated the 49ers 34 to 31 in New Orleans on Feb. 3, 2013. Kaepernick played 6 NFL seasons with San Francisco and has not appeared in another NFL game since the 2016 season.
Fun fact: The Chicago Cubs selected Colin Kaepernick in the 43rd round of the 2009 MLB Draft as a right-handed pitching prospect based on his stellar high school career.
NFL acknowledged players’ concerns
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in 2020 that the league had been wrong for not listening to players earlier. His statement followed nationwide demonstrations after George Floyd’s killing and renewed attention to racial injustice.
Goodell’s statement did not specifically name Kaepernick, who had been outside the NFL since 2016. Kaepernick’s protest had brought attention to racial injustice and police brutality 4 years before the league’s public acknowledgment.
Kaepernick expanded community programs
Colin Kaepernick and Nessa cofounded Know Your Rights Camp to advance the well-being of Black and Brown communities through education and self-empowerment. The organization currently reports 3,122 people engaged across 10 cities.
Know Your Rights Camp also reports that 98% of participants increased their understanding of their rights. Its broader mission includes education, community mobilization, and the development of systems intended to support the next generation of community leaders.
Kaepernick renewed a $1 million pledge
Colin Kaepernick and Know Your Rights Camp announced a renewed Million Dollar Pledge on Aug. 14, 2026. The announcement marked 10 years since Kaepernick first sat during the national anthem before a preseason game.
The renewed initiative commits $1 million to community organizations through monthly grants beginning in 2026 and continuing throughout 2027. Kaepernick said the effort directs resources toward organizations and people working within their communities.
Kaepernick tells his story in memoir
Colin Kaepernick’s 2026 memoir is titled The Perilous Fight, borrowing language from the U.S. national anthem. Kaepernick narrates the audiobook himself and discusses the project during an Audible panel at CultureCon in Brooklyn.
The memoir presents Kaepernick’s account of his experiences and activism. During CultureCon, he discussed reclaiming his story, resisting immediate reactions, and taking a longer view when making difficult decisions about his life and work.
Kaepernick’s comparison of the NFL Combine has continued to generate discussion about his comments. Explore why Colin Kaepernick criticized the NFL Combine slavery comparison and what prompted the reaction.
Kaepernick remains active 10 years later
Colin Kaepernick’s 2016 protest was followed by similar demonstrations among athletes across multiple sports. A decade later, his national anthem protest remains closely associated with athlete activism around racial injustice and police brutality.
Kaepernick remains outside the NFL as of October 2026 while continuing his work through writing and Know Your Rights Camp. His 2026 memoir and interviews revisit his protest, activism, and experiences since leaving professional football.
Kaepernick’s latest comments have brought renewed attention to the anthem controversy connected to his NFL career. Colin Kaepernick reignites anthem debate with blunt remark reveals what brought the long-running discussion back into focus.
What do you think about Colin Kaepernick’s protest and its impact 10 years later? Share your thoughts in the comments on how his actions shaped athlete activism.
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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