Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick has transitioned out of playing NFL football to become a major voice for racial justice.
His controversial protests during NFL games may have cost him the remainder of his pro football career. But. the resulting notoriety as a social activist has evolved into a greater protest movement.
Kaepernick’s turn to activism has made him the face and voice of the racial justice movement. Nike has teamed up with him for social marketing and endorsement opportunities.
Colin Kaepernick Net Worth Snapshot
Name: Colin Kaepernick.
Profession: Quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers.
College: University of Nevada, Reno.
Estimated Net Worth: $20-$25 million, according to multiple Internet sources. However, Forbes.com estimates Kaepernick’s settlement with the NFL may reach as high as $40 million. The lawsuit, claiming NFL owners colluded to keep him out of the league, ended with an undisclosed settlement on February 15, 2019.
Sources of Colin Kaepernick’s Wealth
What are Kaepernick’s sources of wealth? Read on
Colin Kaepernick Salary with the 49ers
According to overthecap.com, Kaepernick earned over $43.3 million during his six years with the San Francisco 49ers. His average salary was $7.2 million per year.
The 49ers offered Kaepernick a $126 million contract extension in 2014 with $54 million in guaranteed money. However, he opted out of the contract in 2016 because the team planned on cutting him from the roster. He became a free agent but didn’t sign with another team.
Before the relationship collapsed with the 49ers, Kaepernick received only about a third of the total dollar amount from the contract.
Endorsement Income
Kaepernick has maintained an endorsement relationship with Nike since his 2011 rookie year with the 49ers.
Recently Nike featured Kaepernick prominently in ads for the 30th anniversary of its “Just Do It” slogan. The campaign reportedly generated greater sales and customer engagement with its brand.
The endorsement deal with Nike, which includes Kaepernick-branded shoes and apparel, is reportedly worth millions of dollars per year in payment and royalties.
Other notable Kaepernick endorsement deals include McDonald’s, Electronic Arts, Jaguar, Beats By Dre and MusclePharm.
Colin Kaepernick NFL Jersey Sales
Kaepernick has leveraged his fame post-NFL by issuing custom number 7, #IMWITHKAP jerseys. Twenty percent of all proceeds go to @yourrightscamp, Kaepernick’s campaign for youth self-empowerment.
The special edition jersey sold out within 24 hours of its release.
Colin Kaepernick Player Stats
Born: 11/3/1987 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. So, how old is Colin Kaepernick? He’s 31 years old.
Throws: Right-Handed.
Height: 6’ 4”.
Weight: 230 lbs.
Nicknames: Kap, Pig Socks.
Video: Watch as Colin Kaepernick throws out a baseball first pitch at 87 mph!
Colin Kaepernick Background
High School
Kaepernick attended John H. Pitman High School in Turlock, California, where he starred in three sports: football, baseball, and basketball. He was nominated for All-State selection in each sport.
Although he excelled in all three, Kaepernick received the most accolades and scholarship offers for his achievements on the baseball pitching mound.
College
Where did Colin Kaepernick go to college? He attended college at the University of Nevada, Reno, from 2007 to 2010. As starting quarterback at Nevada, he won the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Offensive Player of the Year twice, in 2008 and 2010.
Kaepernick established himself as a dual-threat quarterback in his four years at Nevada. He passed for more than 10,000 yards while rushing for over 4,000 yards, setting a career Division I FBS record for quarterbacks. His 59 rushing touchdowns tied for the most by a quarterback in FBS history.
MLB Draft
The Chicago Cubs selected Colin Kaepernick in the 43rd round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft. He didn’t sign with the Cubs, instead electing to play football at Nevada.
NFL Draft
The San Francisco 49ers selected Colin Kaepernick with the 13th pick in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He was the #45 overall pick that year.
NFL Highlights
Colin Kaepernick played quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2016.
He began his NFL career backing up Alex Smith at quarterback but took control of the team after Smith’s concussion in the middle of the 2012 season. His stunning NFL debut culminated with a trip to Super Bowl XLVII.
The next year, Kaepernick led the 49ers back to the NFC Championship Game with an amazing combination of arm strength and elusive rushing ability.
However, the next three seasons saw Kaepernick fall from grace with the team’s management as he lost and then won back his starting job. The 49ers would miss the playoffs those three years.
The Protest Movement
Kaepernick began sitting during the playing of the national anthem at 49ers preseason games in 2016. He stated the act was in protest against, and to bring attention to racial injustice.
As his acts gained more and more attention and criticism, he and some of his teammates -along with other NFL players – began kneeling during the anthem.
At the conclusion of the 2016 season, Kaepernick chose to be released from his contract and became a free agent. He was not signed by another team.
Colin Kaepernick Nike Ad Comercial Video
The central theme of the Colin Kaepernick Nike ad is, “Believe in something even if it means sacrificing everything.”
The ad generated strong opinions on both sides. Supporters loved the Nike move to select Kaepernick as the spokesperson. While detractors called for a boycott of “an anti-American business.”
Kaepernick had been signed with Nike since 2011 despite not playing with an NFL team since 2016. Kaepernick, now a political activist, has found his voice with assistance from Nike.
Personal Life
On Twitter
Colin Kaepernick’s Twitter account is @Kaepernick7.
Who is Colin Kaepernick’s girlfriend?
Colin Kaepernick is reportedly in a relationship with Nessa Diab, a radio and television personality.
Who are Colin Kaepernick’s Mother and Father?
Kaepernick was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1987. His birth mother, Heidi Russo, put him up for adoption after his birth father separated from her.
Rick and Teresa Kaepernick from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, adopted Colin. His new parents moved the family to California when Colin was four years old.
Both Colin Kaepernick’s mom and dad are white. They’ve been quoted as saying, “We absolutely do support him.”
Kaepernick said, “As a child, I would draw family pictures in kindergarten, fully aware of the fact that I had to switch the colors of the crayons. While I did wonder who I looked like, I never had to wonder whether my mother loved me or not.”
Does He Have Brothers and Sisters?
When Rick and Teresa Kaepernick adopted Colin, the couple had two children. Their son Kyle and daughter Devon are both older than Colin.
Quotes About Colin Kaepernick
I thank Colin for all he has contributed to the game of football as an outstanding player and trusted teammate. I also applaud Colin for the courage he has demonstrated in exercising his guaranteed right to free speech. His willingness to take a position at personal cost is now part of our American story.
Jim Harbaugh, former San Francisco 49ers head coach
Every day his car would be the first one in the parking lot. He’d be studying film, and he’d be working out in the morning. I mean, no later than 5:45. He was already in a full lather when I would see him.
Jim Harbaugh, former San Francisco 49ers head coach
I like the arm strength and I like the athleticism, but the worst thing that happened with him was when people tried to make him a pocket passer. He is much better when he can waggle or boot and do some of those things.
Unnamed NFL personnel director
He is among the most inspirational athletes of his generation, who has leveraged the power of sport to help move the world forward.
Sandra Carreon-John, Nike Global Corporate Communications Director
Chip Kelly Quotes on Colin Kaepernick
There was zero distraction. He met with the team immediately after [his first protest]. {And} He met with the other team leaders. He explained his position and where he was coming from. And literally, that was it. Colin was focused on football. He was all about the team and trying to help us win.
He’s big, athletic, he can hurt you both throwing and running.
Do I think he is one of the top 64 quarterbacks in the world? There is no question. Does he have the ability to play quarterback on a winning team in the NFL? There is no question.
Colin Kaepernick Quotes
On Flag Protest
1.) 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. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.
2.) People sometimes forget that love is at the root of our resistance.
3.) To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way.
4.) People are dying in vain because this country isn’t holding their end of the bargain up as far as, you know, giving freedom and justice and liberty to everybody.
5.) This isn’t something I’m gonna ask other people to put their necks out for what I’m doing. If they agree with me and feel strongly about it, then, by all means, I hope they stand with me.
On Leadership
6.) I don’t believe in pressure. The pressure is not being prepared for what you want to do.
7.) I’m going to continue to stand with the people that are being oppressed.
8.) If you’re going to do something, you’re going to do it to be the best. This is for people that don’t have the voice, and this is for people that are being oppressed and need to have equal opportunities to be successful.
9.) Most people don’t want to change. They’re comfortable and set in their ways. But in order to change, you have to be able to agitate people at times. And I think that’s something that’s very necessary for us to improve as a country.
10.) People don’t realize what’s really going on in this country. There are a lot of things that are going on that are unjust. People aren’t being held accountable for. And that’s something that needs to change. That’s something that this country stands for freedom, liberty, and justice for all.
On Change
11.) To me, this is something that has to change. When there’s a significant change, and I feel like that flag represents what it’s supposed to represent, and this country is representing people the way that it’s supposed to, I’ll stand.
12.) It is funny to me that because I can run because I’m athletic, people tend to see that as my only asset.
13.) I realize that men and women of the military go out and sacrifice their lives and put their selves in harm’s way for my freedom of speech and my freedoms in this country, and my freedom to take a seat or take a knee, so I have the utmost respect for them. And I think what I did was taken out of context and spun a different way.
14.) This is something that has to be said. It has to be brought to the forefront of everybody’s attention. When that’s done, I think people can realize what the situation is, and they’ll really effect change.
15.) If we have these real conversations that aren’t comfortable for a lot of people, there’s a better understanding of where both sides are coming from. And if we reach common ground and can understand what everybody is going through, we can really affect change and make sure that everybody is treated equally and has the same freedoms.
16.) There is a lot that needs to change; one specifically is police brutality.
On Motivation
17.) My love for my people serves as the fuel that motivates me and fortifies me on my mission.
18.) There are a lot of people that don’t want to have this conversation. They are scared they might lose their jobs or they might not get endorsements, and they might not be treated the same way. Those are things I’m prepared to handle.
19.) I have great respect for the men and women who fought for this country. I have family, and I have friends that have gone to fight for this country. And they fight for freedom, they fight for liberty and justice, for everyone.
20.) I know that I’m doing something right; I know other people see what I’m doing is right. It’s something that we have to come together; we have to unite, we have to unify and make a change.
On America
21.) While America bills itself as the land of the free, the receipts show that the U.S. has incarcerated approximately 2.2 million people, the largest prison population in the history of mankind.
22.) We have a presidential candidate who’s deleted emails and done things illegally and is a presidential candidate. That doesn’t make sense to me because if that was any other person, you’d be in prison. So what is this country really standing for?
23.) I have seen videos, I’ve seen circumstances where men and women that have been in the military have come back and been treated unjustly by the country they fought for.
24.) I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.
25.) There are bodies in the street, and cops are getting paid leave and getting away with murder… I am not looking for approval. I have to stand up for people that are oppressed. If they take football away, my endorsements from me — I know that I stood up for what is right.
On Social Responsibility
26.) How can you stand for the national anthem of a nation that preaches and propagates freedom and justice for all that’s so unjust to the people living there?
27.) There’s a social responsibility that we have to be educated on these things, to talk about these things.
28.) This stand wasn’t because I feel like I’m being put down in any kind of way. This is because I’m seeing things happen to people that don’t have a voice: people that don’t have a platform to talk and have their voices heard and affect change. So I’m in the position where I can do that, and I’m going to do that for people that can’t.
Colin Kaepernick Fun Facts
1.) The Kaepernick family has had a pet African spurred tortoise since Colin was 10 years old. His name is Sammy.
2.) Many of the tattoos on Kaepernick’s body represent his religious faith. His right arm features a scroll with praying hands and the phrase “To God The Glory” and “Faith.” His left arm displays a cross with the phrase “Heaven Sent” and “God Will Guide Me.”
3.) Kaepernick has received many awards for his social activism, including Harvard University’s W.E.B. Du Bois Medal, Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience Award, and the American Civil Liberties Union Eason Monroe Courageous Advocate Award.
Next Steps
This has been a look at Colin Kaepernick’s NFL earnings, his endorsement deals, and future earnings potential. While it is looking doubtful he will return to the gridiron any time soon, Kaepernick has established a new career as a strong – and sometimes controversial – voice for social change and advocacy.
By Greg Johnson & Mike O’Halloran
Greg, a native Minnesotan and Vikings fan, is a designer and writes about football. Mike is the editor and founder of Sports Feel Good Stories and a contributing writer to USA Football.
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