Colin Kaepernick

Colin Kaepernick Offers to Join New York Jets Practice Squad

Colin Kaepernick, the former NFL quarterback who has not played since 2016, is seeking a return to professional football. In a letter dated September 21, he reached out to the New York Jets, expressing his desire to join the team’s practice squad in light of the season-ending injury sustained by quarterback Aaron Rodgers earlier this month.

“I would be honored and extremely grateful for the opportunity to come in and lead the practice squad,” Kaepernick stated in his correspondence. “I would do this with the sole mission of getting your defense ready each week.”

The letter was shared on Instagram by rapper J. Cole, with Kaepernick’s consent, on September 26. On the same day, the Jets announced the signing of quarterback Trevor Siemian to their practice squad, indicating their response to the team’s current roster needs.

Who Is Colin Kaepernick?

Colin Kaepernick is a former professional football player who gained national prominence as a civil rights activist. His decision to kneel during the national anthem at NFL games sparked widespread attention and debate, as it was a protest against racial inequality and police brutality in the United States.

Kaepernick played college football at the University of Nevada in the late 2000s, where he set numerous school and conference records. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 2011 and quickly established himself as a dynamic and mobile quarterback, leading the team to Super Bowl XLVII less than two years later.

In 2016, Kaepernick’s choice to kneel during the national anthem became a pivotal moment in sports and social activism, inspiring other players to adopt similar forms of protest. Following that season, he became a free agent and has not played in the NFL since. In 2017, Kaepernick filed a grievance against NFL owners, alleging collusion to keep him out of the league. This grievance was resolved with a confidential settlement in February 2019.

Early Life: Parents and Adoption

Colin Rand Kaepernick was born on November 3, 1987, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A few weeks after his birth, he was adopted by Rick and Teresa Kaepernick, a couple who had already raised two children but had experienced the heartbreak of losing two infants to heart defects. Kaepernick’s biological mother, Heidi Russo, was just 19 years old at the time of his birth, and his biological father left upon learning of Russo’s pregnancy. Facing the challenges of single motherhood, Russo grappled with the decision of whether to place her son for adoption. After meeting the Kaepernicks through a mutual friend, she chose to give her child a new opportunity through adoption.

As white parents of a biracial child, the Kaepernicks encountered curiosity and scrutiny from others. Colin often faced questions at school about his family background, with classmates expressing disbelief that the Kaepernicks were his parents. In a 2010 interview with The New York Times, Teresa Kaepernick emphasized their commitment to transparency regarding Colin’s adoption and racial identity. “We’ve always been really open about the adoption, and we were always very open about the skin colors,” she stated. “We pointed it out as a positive, and he saw his difference and was comfortable with it.”

When Colin was four, the family relocated to California. From a young age, he exhibited exceptional athletic talent, starting youth football at the age of eight, where his strong arm quickly secured him the quarterback position. Kaepernick also excelled in baseball, showcasing his skills as a high school pitcher capable of throwing a fastball at 94 miles per hour.

However, football remained Kaepernick’s passion. In fourth grade, he wrote a letter predicting that he would become the starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, expressing aspirations to play professionally and attend a good college. At John H. Pitman High School in Turlock, California, he earned accolades as a first-team All-District, All-Conference, and All-Academic selection. Despite his impressive accomplishments, Kaepernick was overlooked by major college football programs, largely due to concerns about his unorthodox throwing motion and his slender build, which stood at 6 feet 4 inches and weighed just 170 pounds.

College Football Career

Colin Kaepernick’s college football journey began with a pivotal tryout at a camp hosted by the University of Nevada, Reno, where his performance earned him a scholarship. He enrolled at the university in the fall of 2007, originally recruited to play safety. However, during the fifth game of his freshman year against Fresno State, Kaepernick was called upon to step in as quarterback after the team’s starter suffered an injury. He delivered an impressive debut, throwing for 384 yards and four touchdowns, a performance that secured his position as the starter for the remainder of the season.

Over the course of his four years with the Wolf Pack, Kaepernick consistently showcased his speed and strength, amassing remarkable statistics. He set multiple school records and made history as the first quarterback in Division I FBS to achieve over 10,000 passing yards and 4,000 rushing yards, solidifying his legacy in college football.

NFL Career with the San Francisco 49ers

Colin Kaepernick’s journey with the San Francisco 49ers began when the team selected him in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft, despite lingering concerns about his throwing accuracy. During his rookie season, he served as a backup to veteran quarterback Alex Smith. However, Kaepernick ascended to the starting role in 2012 after Smith was sidelined due to a concussion.

Kaepernick quickly adapted to the rigors of professional football, impressing fans and coaches alike with his exceptional athleticism. Under the guidance of head coach Jim Harbaugh, he led the team to significant victories, ultimately earning the permanent starting position. This decision was controversial, given that Smith had achieved one of the league’s highest quarterback ratings and the team had narrowly missed the Super Bowl the previous season. Nonetheless, Kaepernick remained focused, and as the team’s successes accumulated, so did his recognition.

In his first postseason start, Kaepernick made headlines by dominating Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, rushing for an NFL single-game record of 181 yards by a quarterback. The 49ers advanced to Super Bowl XLVII but were narrowly defeated by the Baltimore Ravens, with Kaepernick reflecting, “It’s good to get the experience. We should have won that game regardless, though.”

The 2013 season commenced with Kaepernick’s strong performance, highlighted by a game in which he passed for 412 yards and three touchdowns. The 49ers finished with a 12-4 record and secured a playoff berth, but their season ended in a close loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game.

Despite continued standout performances, the 2014 season saw the 49ers’ record decline to 8-8. The following year proved challenging, as Kaepernick lost his starting position and was ultimately sidelined for the last month of the season due to a shoulder injury. After the season concluded, his request for a trade went unfulfilled, marking a tumultuous period in his career.

National Anthem Kneeling Controversy

The national anthem kneeling controversy began in August 2016 when quarterback Colin Kaepernick made the decision not to stand for the national anthem during a preseason game. In a subsequent interview, he explained, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses Black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way.” Kaepernick stated that he would continue to protest until he observed “significant change” for marginalized communities.

Throughout the 2016 season, Kaepernick’s actions drew widespread attention, sparking both support and criticism from fellow NFL players, politicians, and celebrities. On the field, he showcased impressive statistics, throwing 16 touchdowns with only four interceptions and rushing for 468 yards. However, his team struggled, finishing with a 1-10 record in games he started. At the end of the season, he entered free agency.

As the 2017 NFL season commenced, Kaepernick remained without a team. His peaceful protest had evolved into a broader movement, with numerous players across various NFL teams choosing to kneel during the anthem. Other athletes, including soccer player Megan Rapinoe, also expressed their solidarity. The controversy intensified, becoming a prominent political issue, particularly after President Donald Trump publicly called for the dismissal of kneeling players during a rally in Alabama.

Collusion Lawsuit Overview

On October 15, 2017, Colin Kaepernick filed a grievance against NFL owners, alleging collusion. The grievance asserted that the NFL and its owners conspired to deny Kaepernick employment opportunities in retaliation for his advocacy for equality and social justice, as well as his efforts to highlight systemic issues undermining racial equality in the United States.

In the following month, GQ featured Kaepernick on the cover of its December issue as its “Citizen of the Year.” The magazine justified its choice in a press release, stating, “He’s been vilified by millions and locked out of the NFL—all because he took a knee to protest police brutality.” The statement likened Kaepernick’s courageous stance to those of historical athletes such as Muhammad Ali and Jackie Robinson, who risked everything to effect social change.

On December 3, Kaepernick received the Eason Monroe Courageous Advocate Award during the ACLU of Southern California’s annual Bill of Rights dinner. The next day, he was announced as a finalist for Time magazine’s Person of the Year designation. Although the title was ultimately awarded to “The Silence Breakers”—women who bravely shared their experiences of sexual harassment—Kaepernick garnered further recognition by receiving Sports Illustrated’s Muhammad Ali Legacy Award, which honors individuals who exemplify sportsmanship, leadership, and philanthropy as means to inspire societal change.

On August 30, 2018, an arbitrator denied the NFL’s motion to dismiss Kaepernick’s grievance, affirming that he had presented sufficient evidence to support his claims of collusion.

Kaepernick made headlines again in February 2019 when a debate arose in the Wisconsin State Assembly regarding his inclusion in a resolution honoring prominent African Americans for Black History Month. The resolution was ultimately amended to exclude his name. Shortly thereafter, on February 15, Kaepernick’s legal dispute with the NFL concluded unexpectedly, as both parties announced they had reached a confidential settlement.

Nike Ad

On September 3, 2018, Nike unveiled Colin Kaepernick as the face of its Just Do It 30th anniversary campaign. The advertisement prominently displayed a close-up of Kaepernick’s face alongside the powerful message: “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.” This bold move sparked immediate backlash, with some consumers responding by burning their Nike merchandise. Despite the controversy, the ad ultimately garnered acclaim, winning a Creative Arts Emmy for Outstanding Commercial.

The following summer, The Wall Street Journal reported that Kaepernick influenced Nike to modify a shoe design that initially featured the original U.S. flag. This change was prompted by concerns that the flag symbolized a period in American history when slavery was prevalent.

Attempts to Rejoin an NFL Team

On November 12, 2019, it was announced that the NFL would conduct a private workout for Colin Kaepernick at the Atlanta Falcons’ practice facility on November 16, inviting representatives from all 32 teams. However, the arrangement faced immediate challenges. Kaepernick was reportedly given only two hours to confirm or decline the invitation. Additionally, his team encountered issues with the language in the waiver he was required to sign, and he was not allowed to bring his own camera crew to the event.

Consequently, shortly before the workout was set to begin, Kaepernick decided to relocate the event to a high school approximately an hour away. Despite the late notice, personnel from eight NFL teams attended, witnessing Kaepernick demonstrate his NFL-caliber arm strength and speed during a 40-minute exhibition. Following the workout, Kaepernick stated, “I’ve been ready for three years. I’ve been denied for three years. We all know why I came out here. [I] showed it today in front of everybody. We have nothing to hide. So we’re waiting for the 32 owners, 32 teams, [NFL Commissioner] Roger Goodell, all of them to stop running. Stop running from the truth. Stop running from the people.”

In 2022, Kaepernick participated in another workout with the Las Vegas Raiders, exploring the possibility of serving as a backup quarterback to Derek Carr. Although initial discussions suggested a potential signing, no agreement was reached, leading Kaepernick to express his belief that “something else within this decision” impeded the process.

Kaepernick has remained without an NFL team since then. In late September 2023, he reached out to the New York Jets, offering to join their practice squad following the season-ending injury to quarterback Aaron Rodgers. In his letter, Kaepernick stated, “I would be honored and extremely grateful for the opportunity to come in and lead the practice squad. I would do this with the sole mission of getting your defense ready each week.” The letter was publicly shared by rapper J. Cole on Instagram, reportedly with Kaepernick’s permission. On the same day, the Jets announced the signing of veteran quarterback Trevor Siemian.

Girlfriend and Child

Colin Kaepernick has been in a relationship with television host and radio personality Nessa Diab since 2015. The couple welcomed their first child in August 2022, opting to keep the baby’s name and gender private. In an Instagram post, Diab expressed her gratitude, stating, “Colin is the most amazing dad, and I’m so thankful that he is by our side for every moment of this journey.”