COLIN KAEPERNICK is an American quarterback who peacefully protested police brutality in the USA.
The repercussions he faced after starting his protests completely changed his professional life.
What happened to Colin Kaepernick?
During the 2016 NFL pre-season, Colin began to sit during the national anthem, then he began kneeling during the national anthem.
In an interview, he said: “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses Black people and people of colour. To me, this is bigger than football.”
As the season progressed, more and more NFL athletes took a knee during the national anthem before games.
Colin’s peaceful protest made national headlines and he was heavily criticised by many right-wing media outlets.
At a time when police brutality towards people of colour in the United States was making headlines worldwide, this form of protest spoke volumes.
The Republican presidential nominee at the time condemned the athlete’s actions, saying they had a “lack of respect for the United States” and suggested they leave the country.
These sentiments were echoed by many Americans and Colin reportedly received death threats as well.
Colin decided to enter the NFL free-agent market at the end of the season but was not signed by any team.
He filed a grievance with the NFL citing team owners were conspiring to keep him out of the league.
Eric Reid, who played with Colin with the 49ers, also entered the free-agent market and was not signed to a team until the Carolina Panthers signed him for the 2018 season.
Both athletes settled their grievances with the NFL in February 2019, however, because of confidentiality agreements, the terms of the settlement are not known.
Where is Colin Kaepernick now?
In November 2019 Colin accepted the NFL’s invitation to participate in a private workout in front of representatives from all 32 teams.
Allegedly only eight NFL teams sent people to observe the workout and no offers were made.
Facing mounting criticism that Colin remained a player without a team, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell issued an apology in June 2020.
He said that the league should have listened to the concerns raised by Colin and other protesters.
He later went on to say he welcomes Colin’s return to the NFL and encouraged teams to find a place for him.
Since 2016 Colin has received many honours for his work raising awareness of racial discrimination and inequality.
- Sports Illustrated’s Muhammad Ali Legacy Award – 2017
- Eason Monroe Courageous Advocate Award -2017
- Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience Award – 2018
In July 2020 Colin signed a deal with Disney to develop documentaries and other projects that focus on racial and social injustices.
What is Colin Kaepernick’s net worth?
According to Celebrity Net Worth Colin Kaepernick’s net worth of $20 million.
This number comes from not only his NFL career but also from sponsorships and media deals.
Outside of the NFL, Kaepernick gets his wealth from his Nike and media contracts, including a Netflix deal which sees him narrating a new series, Colin in Black & White, which was released on October 29, 2021.
For Nike’s 30th anniversary, Kaepernick was also seen as the face of the “Just Do It” campaign.
“Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything,” he said during the ad.
