Colin Kaepernick is an American civil rights activist and former football quarterback, who played six seasons for the San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League (NFL).
He gained national attention for kneeling during the national anthem as a form of protest against racial injustice and police brutality.
Kaepernick began his protest during the 2016 NFL preseason and was joined by other players, sparking a wider protest movement.
After becoming a free agent in 2017, he remained unsigned, which numerous analysts and observers have attributed to political reasons.
Kaepernick filed a grievance against the NFL and its owners, accusing them of collusion in keeping him out of the league.
Net worth | $20 million |
Date of birth | November 3, 1987 |
Profession | Civil rights activist, former NFL player |
Nationality | American |
Background
Kaepernick was born to Heidi Russo but was adopted by Rick and Teresa Kaepernick in December 1987.
Rick and Teresa are a Wisconsin couple who adopted Colin just weeks after he was born.
Kaepernick’s birth mother raised him for a few weeks while looking for the right family to raise him.
Teresa and Rick were introduced to Heidi through a mutual friend, and in December 1987, they welcomed him into their family via adoption.
Kaepernick’s adoptive parents have been supportive of his decision to take a knee during the National Anthem at a San Francisco 49ers game in protest of racial injustice and police brutality.
They released a statement in December 2016, saying, “As his parents, it pains us to read articles and tweets saying that his family does not support him; this could not be further from the truth.”
Kaepernick has spoken positively about his parents’ willingness to be open and learn from their mistakes.
Growing up, he faced challenges as a biracial adoptee being raised by white parents.
Kaepernick has started a conversation around those challenges to help others in a similar position.
His new graphic novel, Change the Game, explores similar themes and tells his life story from the perspective of his teenage self.
Net worth
Kaepernick’s net worth is estimated to be around $20 million.
Throughout his six seasons in the NFL, he earned a total of $43,479,216 in career earnings.
Kaepernick’s peak NFL salary was $14.3 million, which he earned during the 2016 season.
In addition to his NFL earnings, he has also made money from brand endorsements with companies like McDonald’s, Beats By Dre Headphones, MusclePharm, Jaguar and Electronic Arts.
Kaepernick’s most lucrative endorsement deal was signed in 2018 with Nike, coinciding with the company’s 30th anniversary.
He and his partner Nessa founded the organization Know Your Rights Camp in 2016, which aims to support underprivileged youth by educating them about their legal rights, American history, and self-empowerment.
In 2017, Kaepernick filed a grievance against the NFL, alleging that the league and its owners conspired to keep him from playing after he kneeled during the national anthem.
The lawsuit was privately settled in February 2019 for a sum between $60 and $80 million.
Salary and contracts
Kaepernick played six seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.
He signed a record-breaking $126 million contract in 2014, but only received about 31% of the total, or $39.4 million, before becoming a free agent in 2017.
The contract had a $12.3 million signing bonus and a 2014 salary of $645,000, with the remaining money only guaranteed in case of a career-ending injury.
Kaepernick’s salary decreased each year if he didn’t meet certain performance-based criteria, and he eventually restructured his contract in 2016, turning the 2017 season into a player option.
After being released by the 49ers, he opted out of his contract and became a free agent, but remains unsigned as of 2024.
Endorsement deals
Kaepernick has had several endorsement deals throughout his career, including with Beats By Dre headphones, McDonald’s, Jaguar, Electronic Arts and MusclePharm.
However, his most significant endorsement deal is with Nike, which he signed in September 2018 for their 30th anniversary ‘Just Do It’ campaign.
This endorsement deal has earned Kaepernick millions and includes his own branded line of apparel, shoes, shirts, and jerseys.
Nike contract
Kaepernick’s Nike contract is worth millions and includes his own branded line of apparel, shoes, shirts and jerseys.
The deal positioned Kaepernick as a brand ambassador with a star-level endorsement deal, comparable to top NFL players, with royalties included.
Nike’s vice president of brand for North America, Gino Fisanotti, highlighted Kaepernick’s inspirational impact on sport and society, emphasizing the goal to introduce ‘Just Do It’ to a new generation of athletes.
Car collection
Kaepernick’s car collection includes a Jaguar F-Type, estimated to be worth around $100,000.
His love for Jaguars is evident, as he has been seen with multiple Jaguars, particularly a maroon F-Type V8-S, a convertible that boasts impressive performance with 575 horsepower, accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds.
Real estate
In 2014, Kaepernick purchased a home in San Jose for $2.7 million under a family trust.
He later sold this San Jose mansion for $3.075 million in 2017.
Additionally, in 2016, he traded his California mansion for a luxury condo in Tribeca, New York, which he listed for $2.895 million and eventually sold for $3 million.
College career
Kaepernick attended the University of Nevada, where he played college football for the Nevada Wolf Pack.
He excelled as a quarterback, becoming the school’s starting quarterback during his freshman season.
Kaepernick’s college career was marked by impressive achievements, including being named the Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year in both 2008 and 2010.
Additionally, he finished his college career as the only player in college football history to pass for 10,000 yards and rush for 4,000 yards, showcasing his dual-threat abilities on the field.
NFL draft
Kaepernick was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft, as the 36th overall pick.
He was a highly regarded quarterback prospect, known for his dual-threat abilities and impressive college statistics.
Kaepernick’s college career included two consecutive seasons with over 3,000 total yards and 20 touchdowns, as well as setting the FBS record for most career rushing touchdowns by a quarterback.
His college success led to his selection in the second round of the NFL Draft, where he began his professional football career as a backup to Alex Smith.
Kaepernick’s NFL career included leading the 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance in 2012, and becoming a prominent civil rights activist known for his protests during the national anthem in 2016.
Awards and honors
In 2018, Amnesty International awarded Kaepernick its highest honor, the Ambassador of Conscience Award, in recognition of his work to combat human rights violations and promote equality.
He was honored for his peaceful protest against police violence, which involved kneeling during the national anthem before NFL games.
The protest sparked a movement and debate about free speech and patriotism, and Kaepernick was widely criticized by some, including the President of the United States.
Despite not having a job in the NFL, his impact and influence on human rights issues have been recognized globally.
Kaepernick has also received other awards, such as the 2017 Sports Illustrated Muhammad Ali Legacy Award and the 2017 GQ Magazine Citizen of the Year.
His activism has inspired many and has contributed to raising awareness about systemic oppression and racial injustice in the United States and beyond.
Philanthropic efforts
Kaepernick has been recognized for his philanthropic efforts, particularly in supporting social justice causes.
In 2016, he pledged to donate $1 million to various charities, and he fulfilled this promise by donating to 41 different charities addressing a wide range of social issues, including homelessness, education, community-police relations, criminal justice reform and reproductive rights.
Kaepernick’s donations extended beyond monetary contributions, as he also provided food aid to Somalia and hosted a Know Your Rights camp in Chicago to empower communities.
His philanthropic efforts have been recognized by organizations such as Amnesty International, which awarded him its highest honor, the Ambassador of Conscience Award, in 2018 for his work in promoting and enhancing the cause of human rights.
Kaepernick’s charitable efforts extend beyond his donations, as he has also been an advocate for social justice, using his platform to raise awareness about systemic oppression and racial injustice.
Personal life
Kaepernick has been in a relationship with Nessa Diab since 2015.
Nessa is an American television and radio personality, predominantly for MTV and an outspoken activist.
She was born on May 6, 1981, in Southern California to an Egyptian father and Middle Eastern mother.
Nessa has two brothers and spent her childhood in Saudi Arabia before moving back to California for her education.
She completed her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, with a degree in mass communication.
Nessa started her career as an intern for a commercial radio station called 94.9 FM, or KYLD, and later landed the hosting gig for the show Girl Code on MTV.
She has also worked for VH1 and MTV shows such as The Real World and the reunions of The Challenge, among many others.
Nessa is also the incredible voice behind Hot 97, the iconic radio station in the heart of New York City.
She is known for her activism and her work with Kaepernick in co-founding the Know Your Rights camp, which aims to empower the youth of Black and Brown communities.
NFL lawsuit and settlement
Kaepernick and Eric Reid, two former NFL players, reached a settlement in their collusion case against the NFL in February 2019.
The terms of the settlement were not disclosed, but some reports suggest that it may have approached $40 million.
The lawsuit alleged that the NFL and its teams colluded to keep Kaepernick and Reid out of the league due to their protests during the national anthem to raise awareness about police brutality and racial injustice.
The settlement implies that both sides saw a potential to lose the case, and it was a way to avoid publicly-revealed documents that could shed negative light onto the NFL.
Despite the settlement, the Kaepernick conversation has not disappeared, and he continues to seek employment in the NFL.
The settlement did not force the conversation to disappear or purchase a significant measure of silence from Kaepernick and Reid.
Controversies
Kaepernick sparked controversy by refusing to stand for the national anthem before games in 2016.
He did this to raise awareness about racial injustice, police brutality and oppression in the United States.
Kaepernick’s actions led to a wider protest movement, with other athletes joining him in using their platform to raise awareness about social issues.
Despite his protests, he became a free agent after the 2016 season and remained unsigned, leading him to file a grievance against the NFL, accusing the league and its owners of collusion in keeping him out of the league.
In February 2019, Kaepernick withdrew the grievance after reaching a confidential settlement with the NFL.
His protests received renewed attention in 2020 amid the George Floyd protests against police brutality and racism, but he remains unsigned by any professional football team.
Kaepernick’s actions have been met with both praise and criticism, with some praising his activism and others denouncing his refusal to support the American flag.