The Hashtag
#KaepernickKneel and #TakeAKnee documented Colin Kaepernick’s silent protest during the national anthem to call attention to police brutality and racial injustice, igniting the most divisive sports controversy in modern American history and ending his NFL career.
The Protest Begins (August 2016)
August 26, 2016: Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers quarterback, sat during the national anthem before a preseason game. Media initially didn’t notice.
August 28: After second instance, Kaepernick 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.”
September 1: After consulting with former NFL player and Green Beret Nate Boyer, Kaepernick switched from sitting to kneeling as a compromise showing respect while protesting.
The Movement Spreads
NFL Players Join
- September 2016: 49ers teammate Eric Reid joined, first to kneel with Kaepernick
- September 11 (9/11): Entire Seahawks team locked arms; Chiefs’ Marcus Peters raised fist
- September 2017: Over 200 NFL players participated after Trump’s “son of a bitch” comments
- Peak participation: Week 3, 2017 season (post-Trump Charlottesville remarks)
Trump’s Involvement
September 22, 2017: At Alabama rally, Trump said owners should fire players who kneel: “Get that son of a bitch off the field right now, he’s fired!”
This escalated protests dramatically:
- Players’ response: Massive increase in demonstrations, teams locking arms
- Owners’ reactions: Some supported players, others (Jerry Jones) threatened discipline
- National division: Became litmus test for political identity
Career Consequences
Kaepernick’s NFL Exit
- 2016 season: Opted out of 49ers contract after 1-10 record
- 2017 onward: No team signed him despite starting QB credentials
- Collusion grievance: Filed against NFL owners (settled confidentially 2019)
- Workout fiasco (2019): NFL arranged workout then changed terms; Kaepernick held own session
Blackballed Evidence
Kaepernick’s stats in final season (2,241 yards, 16 TD, 4 INT, 90.7 passer rating) were solid, yet teams signed clearly inferior quarterbacks:
- Mike Glennon: Bears signed for $18.5M (1 TD, 5 INT in 4 games)
- Mark Sanchez, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Josh McCown: All got contracts while Kap unsigned
Cultural Divide
Supporters’ Arguments
- First Amendment right: Peaceful protest is patriotic
- Police brutality: Data shows disproportionate violence against Black Americans
- Military support: Nate Boyer (Green Beret) suggested kneeling; many veterans supported
- Sacrifice: Kaepernick gave up $100M+ career for principles
Critics’ Arguments
- Flag/anthem disrespect: Offends military, veterans, police
- Wrong venue: “Don’t politicize sports”
- Divisive: Created workplace conflict, hurt NFL ratings
- Hypocrisy: NFL players kneeling while taking league money
Business Impact
Nike Partnership (2018)
Nike made Kaepernick face of 30th anniversary “Just Do It” campaign: “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.”
- Immediate reaction: Stock drop, boycott threats, shoes burned
- Long-term: Stock hit all-time high, $6B brand value increase
- Cultural win: Solidified Nike’s Gen Z/progressive consumer base
NFL’s Response
- 2018: Announced policy requiring players to stand or stay in locker room (quickly suspended after NFLPA pushback)
- 2020 George Floyd: NFL reversed course, Roger Goodell admitted “we were wrong,” encouraged peaceful protest
- BLM endzone stencils: 2020 season featured social justice messaging
Legacy
Impact on Sports Activism
Kaepernick’s protest opened floodgates:
- WNBA: Players wore “Black Lives Matter” shirts (2016)
- NBA: “I Can’t Breathe” shirts (Eric Garner), entire teams kneeling post-George Floyd
- College/high school: Widespread anthem protests
- International: Premier League took knee, F1 drivers supported
Career Aftermath
- No NFL return: Last played in 2016 (age 29)
- Social justice work: Know Your Rights Camp for youth, $1M+ donated
- Publishing deal: Memoir with Kaepernick Publishing (2020)
- Netflix deal: Colin in Black & White limited series (2021)
- 2024 status: Still training, still unsigned at 36
Historical Parallel
Kaepernick joined athletes who sacrificed careers for protest:
- Muhammad Ali: Refused Vietnam draft, stripped of title (1967)
- Tommie Smith/John Carlos: Black Power salute at 1968 Olympics
- Craig Hodges: Wore dashiki to White House, career ended (1992)
The Question
The central debate remains unresolved: Was Kaepernick’s protest justified civil disobedience or disrespectful grandstanding? Did he sacrifice his career, or was he washed up anyway? The answer became a political Rorschach test, revealing more about the observer than the observed.
Related: #BlackLivesMatter #NFL #SocialJustice
Sources: