Total Pro Sports
Colin Kaepernick has not backed down. Nearly 10 years after he first knelt during the national anthem, the former NFL quarterback says he would do it again. He believes the message mattered more than his football career.
Kaepernick began kneeling during the 2016 NFL season with the San Francisco 49ers. He said he was protesting police brutality and racial inequality in the United States. His action sparked a nationwide debate and put him at the center of controversy.
That decision also changed his career path. Kaepernick played his final NFL game on January 1, 2017. He never returned to the league after that season, even though he had earlier led the 49ers to a Super Bowl.
Kaepernick recently addressed his decision during an interview with ABC News. He said he has no regrets. He framed the moment as bigger as he wanted.
“Thinking about whether or not it’s worth it: if even one life was saved, one life was advanced, it’ll be worth it every day of the week,” Kaepernick told ABC News.
He stressed the need for action when it comes to social justice. “I think that’s incredibly important as we think about our future. We have to be able to do whatever it takes to make sure that we’re advancing our communities, advancing our students, and making sure that we are setting each other up for success in the future,” he said.
While Kaepernick stays focused on activism, former teammates still talk about his time in the locker room. Delanie Walker shared his thoughts a few months ago on the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast. Walker said Kaepernick used to party with teammates early in his career but changed after becoming the 49ers’ starting quarterback.
Even after years away from the NFL, Kaepernick still speaks about football. He says he trains every day and stays ready in case another opportunity comes.
“We still train every morning, up early before we start getting to business and get up and running,” Kaepernick said. “We’re always going to be ready.”
His longtime partner, Nessa Diab, also said earlier this year that Kaepernick continues to work out regularly and has not stopped preparing for a possible return.
Ten years later also, he believes the message still matters, and he says the work is not finished.
