Colin Kaepernick facts for kids
Kaepernick with the San Francisco 49ers in 2012
|
|||||||||||||||||
| No. 7 | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Quarterback | ||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
| Born: | November 3, 1987 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
||||||||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 230 lb (104 kg) | ||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||
| High school: | Pitman (Turlock, California) | ||||||||||||||||
| College: | Nevada (2006–2010) | ||||||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2011 / Round: 2 / Pick: 36 | ||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||||||
Colin Rand Kaepernick, born on November 3, 1987, is an American civil rights activist and a former professional football quarterback. He played in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. In 2016, he became widely known for kneeling during the national anthem before NFL games. He did this to protest against unfair treatment and to speak up for people who were not being treated equally in the United States.
Kaepernick played college football for the Nevada Wolf Pack, where he was named Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year twice. The 49ers selected him in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft. He became the team's starting quarterback in the middle of the 2012 season and led them to Super Bowl XLVII. The next year, he helped the 49ers reach the NFC Championship Game.
During the 2016 preseason, Kaepernick began his protest by sitting, and later kneeling, during the U.S. national anthem. He wanted to highlight issues of unfairness and unequal treatment in the country. His actions led to many discussions, with some people supporting his message and others disagreeing with his method. After the 2016 season, Kaepernick became a free agent and was not signed by another team. Many people believed this was because of his protests. In 2017, he filed a complaint against the NFL, saying that team owners worked together to prevent him from being signed. He reached a private agreement with the NFL in 2019. His protests gained new attention in 2020 during discussions about fairness and equal rights.
Early life and sports beginnings
Colin Kaepernick was born in 1987 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. When he was five weeks old, he was adopted by Rick and Teresa Kaepernick, who already had two biological children. The Kaepernicks adopted Colin after sadly losing two other sons to heart defects.
Colin lived in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, until he was four, then his family moved to California. He started playing youth football at age eight as a defensive end and punter. By age nine, he was the starting quarterback on his team.
Kaepernick was an excellent student, earning a 4.0 GPA at John H. Pitman High School in Turlock, California. He was a talented athlete, playing football, basketball, and baseball. In his senior year, he was named the most valuable player (MVP) in football for his conference. In basketball, he was a top player and led his team to a strong playoff performance.
College football journey
Even though Kaepernick received many scholarship offers for baseball, he really wanted to play college football. The University of Nevada, Reno and its head coach, Chris Ault, were the only ones to offer him a football scholarship. Kaepernick signed with Nevada in February 2006.
He started his college football journey in 2007 as a back-up quarterback for the Wolf Pack. He played in 11 games, throwing for 19 touchdowns and running for six more. Nevada finished the season with a 6–7 record, and Kaepernick was named Western Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year.
As a sophomore, Kaepernick continued to shine. He became only the sixth player in NCAA history to pass for over 2,000 yards and rush for over 1,000 yards in a single season. He even won the MVP award at the 2008 Humanitarian Bowl. After this season, he was named the WAC Offensive Player of the Year, a rare achievement for a sophomore.
In the 2009 Major League Baseball draft, the Chicago Cubs baseball team drafted Kaepernick. However, he chose to stay at the University of Nevada to continue his football career.
Kaepernick led the Wolf Pack to an 8–5 record in his junior season. He was recognized as a second-team All-WAC quarterback.
On November 26, 2010, Kaepernick led his team to an exciting overtime victory against the previously undefeated Boise State Broncos. This win ended Boise State's 24-game winning streak and was a memorable moment for Nevada football.
He finished his senior season with impressive stats, becoming only the second quarterback in FBS history to have 20 passing touchdowns and 20 rushing touchdowns in the same season. Nevada shared the WAC title, and Kaepernick was named WAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year.
Kaepernick ended his college career as the first quarterback in Division I FBS history to pass for over 10,000 yards and rush for over 4,000 yards. He also tied a record for most career rushing touchdowns by a quarterback.
He maintained a 4.0 grade point average throughout college and earned a bachelor's degree in business management in 2011. After his senior season, he was ready for the NFL Draft.
Professional football career
Joining the San Francisco 49ers
On April 29, 2011, the San Francisco 49ers traded up in the 2011 NFL draft to select Colin Kaepernick as the 36th overall pick. He spent his first season, 2011, as a backup quarterback to Alex Smith, throwing only a few passes in three games.
Becoming a starter and Super Bowl XLVII
In 2012, Kaepernick started to play more. He scored his first career touchdown with a seven-yard run. In Week 10, he stepped in after Alex Smith got injured and played well, leading to a tie game. He then got his first NFL start on November 19, during a Monday Night Football game against the Chicago Bears. He led the 49ers to a big 32–7 win.
This created a discussion about who should be the starting quarterback. Even though Alex Smith had a great record, Kaepernick's exciting running and strong arm made him a dynamic player. Kaepernick remained the starter and led the 49ers to the playoffs.
In his first playoff start, against the Green Bay Packers, Kaepernick set an NFL record for most rushing yards by a quarterback in a single game with 181 yards. The 49ers defeated the Packers 45–31. They then defeated the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship, advancing to Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans. Although Kaepernick played well, throwing for over 300 yards and scoring a rushing touchdown, the 49ers lost a close game to the Baltimore Ravens 34–31.
Continuing success and challenges
In the 2013 season opener, Kaepernick threw for a career-high 412 yards. He finished the season with 3,197 passing yards and 21 touchdowns, leading the 49ers to a 12–4 record and another playoff appearance.
In the playoffs, the 49ers defeated the Green Bay Packers and the Carolina Panthers. However, they lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game, ending their hopes of returning to the Super Bowl.
On June 4, 2014, Kaepernick signed a six-year contract extension with the 49ers. The 2014 season saw the 49ers finish 8–8 and miss the playoffs. Kaepernick threw for 3,369 yards and 19 touchdowns. After this season, head coach Jim Harbaugh left the team.
The 2015 season was challenging for Kaepernick under new head coach Jim Tomsula. He eventually lost his starting job due to injuries and needed shoulder surgery, ending his season early.
Final season with the 49ers
Kaepernick entered the 2016 season recovering from three surgeries. He competed for the starting quarterback role with Blaine Gabbert and was named the starter for Week 6. He restructured his contract, making it a two-year deal.
He had some strong performances, including a game where he recorded three passing touchdowns and 113 rushing yards, joining an elite group of quarterbacks. For the 2016 season, Kaepernick played twelve games, finishing with 2,241 passing yards, sixteen passing touchdowns, and 468 rushing yards.
During the offseason, San Francisco hired Kyle Shanahan as their new coach. The team informed Kaepernick they planned to release him. On March 3, 2017, he chose to opt out of his contract and became a free agent.
After the 49ers
After leaving the 49ers in 2017, Kaepernick was not signed by another NFL team. Many people believed this was connected to his protests during the national anthem. The Seattle Seahawks showed some interest but did not offer him a contract.
In October 2017, Kaepernick filed a complaint against the NFL, suggesting that team owners worked together to prevent him from being signed. The case was set to go to trial, but in February 2019, Kaepernick and the NFL reached a private agreement and he withdrew his complaint. Eric Reid, another player who joined Kaepernick's protests, also settled a similar complaint with the league.
Kaepernick continued to train, hoping to play again. In November 2019, the NFL arranged a workout for him in Atlanta, inviting all 32 teams. However, Kaepernick changed the location and made it a public throwing session due to concerns about the NFL's plans. Scouts from seven NFL teams attended.
In June 2020, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll expressed regret for not signing Kaepernick in 2017. He also mentioned that a team had contacted him about Kaepernick, which was the first time since 2017.
Kaepernick worked out for the Las Vegas Raiders in May 2022. In August 2024, Jim Harbaugh, who was Kaepernick's former coach with the 49ers and became the head coach for the Los Angeles Chargers, offered Kaepernick a coaching job. Kaepernick declined the offer for the 2024 season but could join in the 2025 season if he changed his mind.
Career statistics
NFL
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Bold | Career high |
Regular season
| Year | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | Sacks | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Sck | Yds | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2011 | SF | 3 | 0 | — | 3 | 5 | 60.0 | 35 | 7.0 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 81.3 | 2 | −2 | −1.0 | −1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | SF | 13 | 7 | 5–2 | 136 | 218 | 62.4 | 1,814 | 8.3 | 57 | 10 | 3 | 98.3 | 63 | 415 | 6.6 | 50 | 5 | 16 | 112 | 9 | 2 |
| 2013 | SF | 16 | 16 | 12–4 | 243 | 416 | 58.4 | 3,197 | 7.7 | 64 | 21 | 8 | 91.6 | 92 | 524 | 5.7 | 28 | 4 | 39 | 231 | 6 | 4 |
| 2014 | SF | 16 | 16 | 8–8 | 289 | 478 | 60.5 | 3,369 | 7.0 | 80 | 19 | 10 | 86.4 | 104 | 639 | 6.1 | 90 | 1 | 52 | 344 | 8 | 5 |
| 2015 | SF | 9 | 8 | 2–6 | 144 | 244 | 59.0 | 1,615 | 6.6 | 76 | 6 | 5 | 78.5 | 45 | 256 | 5.7 | 15 | 1 | 28 | 166 | 5 | 1 |
| 2016 | SF | 12 | 11 | 1–10 | 196 | 331 | 59.2 | 2,241 | 6.8 | 65 | 16 | 4 | 90.7 | 69 | 468 | 6.8 | 30 | 2 | 36 | 207 | 9 | 3 |
| Career | 69 | 58 | 28–30 | 1,011 | 1,692 | 59.8 | 12,271 | 7.3 | 80 | 72 | 30 | 88.9 | 375 | 2,300 | 6.1 | 90 | 13 | 171 | 1,060 | 37 | 15 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | Sacks | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Sck | Yds | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2011 | SF | 0 | 0 | did not play | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | SF | 3 | 3 | 2−1 | 49 | 80 | 61.3 | 798 | 10.0 | 45 | 4 | 2 | 100.9 | 25 | 264 | 10.6 | 56 | 3 | 5 | 32 | 1 | 0 |
| 2013 | SF | 3 | 3 | 2−1 | 45 | 82 | 54.9 | 576 | 7.0 | 45 | 3 | 3 | 74.0 | 26 | 243 | 9.3 | 58 | 1 | 6 | 26 | 3 | 1 |
| Career | 6 | 6 | 4–2 | 94 | 162 | 58.0 | 1,374 | 8.5 | 45 | 7 | 5 | 87.3 | 51 | 507 | 9.9 | 58 | 4 | 11 | 58 | 4 | 1 | |
College
| Season | Team | GP | Passing | Rushing | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | |||||
| 2006 | Nevada |  Redshirt |
|||||||||||||
| 2007 | Nevada | 11 | 133 | 247 | 53.8 | 2,175 | 19 | 3 | 150.8 | 105 | 593 | 5.6 | 6 | ||
| 2008 | Nevada | 13 | 208 | 383 | 54.3 | 2,849 | 22 | 7 | 132.1 | 161 | 1,130 | 7.0 | 17 | ||
| 2009 | Nevada | 13 | 166 | 282 | 58.9 | 2,052 | 20 | 6 | 139.1 | 161 | 1,183 | 7.3 | 16 | ||
| 2010 | Nevada | 14 | 233 | 359 | 64.9 | 3,022 | 21 | 8 | 150.5 | 173 | 1,206 | 7.0 | 20 | ||
| Career | 51 | 740 | 1,271 | 58.2 | 10,098 | 82 | 24 | 142.5 | 600 | 4,112 | 6.9 | 59 | |||
Activism and social justice
Leading up to the 2016 season, Kaepernick used social media to comment on important events. These included discussions about fairness and equal treatment for all people. In the 49ers' third preseason game, a reporter noticed Kaepernick sitting during the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner".
After the game, Kaepernick explained his actions. He stated, "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color." He added that he felt this issue was bigger than football. He wanted to protest until he felt the American flag truly represented what it should.
In the 49ers' final preseason game, Kaepernick kneeled during the U.S. national anthem. He did this to show more respect to military members while still protesting. He wanted to bring attention to issues of unfair treatment. Kaepernick became more involved in social justice. He continued to kneel during the anthem before every 49ers game that season.
After his initial protests, Kaepernick promised to donate $1 million to organizations. These groups were working in communities that faced challenges. He donated $25,000 to Mothers Against Police Brutality. In 2018, he completed his "Million Dollar Pledge" by donating $100,000. This was given as $10,000 donations to charities, which were then matched by celebrities.
Inspired by Kaepernick, other NFL players and professional athletes also protested silently during the national anthem. His San Francisco teammates honored him with the team's Len Eshmont Award. This award goes to the player who best shows inspirational and courageous play. His coach, Chip Kelly, later said Kaepernick was "zero distraction" that season.
Also in 2016, Kaepernick and his partner Nessa started the "Know Your Rights Camp." This organization held free workshops for young people. It taught them about self-empowerment, American history, and their legal rights. In April 2020, the Know Your Rights Camp created a fund to help people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Kaepernick donated $100,000 to this fund.
In 2018, Nike released an advertisement featuring Kaepernick. The ad included the powerful text, "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything." An NFL spokesperson responded by saying Kaepernick's social justice efforts "deserve our attention and action."
In July 2019, Nike released a shoe with the Betsy Ross flag design. The shoes were meant to celebrate Independence Day. However, the model was later removed after Colin Kaepernick and others said they found the flag offensive. They associated it with a time when slavery was legal in the United States.
In June 2020, during the George Floyd protests, The New York Times discussed the NFL's history with race. They noted that most NFL players are African-American, but most team owners are white. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell apologized for not listening to the concerns of African-American players sooner. Many felt his words were important, especially given the league's past actions regarding Kaepernick. Michael Rosenberg of Sports Illustrated wrote that many people were starting to think differently about Kaepernick. He compared this to how people later viewed Muhammad Ali and Jackie Robinson.
Vegan activism
In 2016, Kaepernick shared that he started following a vegan diet nine months earlier. He believed it helped him recover from injuries. In 2020, he partnered with Impossible Foods through his "Know Your Rights Camp" organization. Together, they provided vegan food to communities that needed it. Also in 2020, he worked with Ben & Jerry's to create a vegan ice cream flavor called "Change the Whirled." A portion of the money from sales goes to the "Know Your Rights Camp."
Written works
- I Color Myself Different (Scholastic)
Personal life
Kaepernick was baptized Methodist, confirmed Lutheran, and attended a Baptist church during his college years. Kaepernick spoke about his faith saying, "I think God guides me through every day and helps me take the right steps and has helped me to get to where I'm at." Kaepernick has multiple tattoos about his faith. His right arm features a scroll with the Bible verse Psalm 18:39 written on it. Tattooed under the scroll are praying hands with the phrase "To God The Glory" written on them. To the left of both the scroll and praying hands is the word "Faith" written vertically. His left arm features a Christian cross with the words "Heaven Sent" on it referring to Jesus Christ. Written above and below the cross is the phrase "God Will Guide Me". Written to the left and right of the cross is the Bible verse Psalm 27:3.
Kaepernick reportedly started dating radio personality and television host Nessa Diab in July 2015. They officially went public about their relationship in February 2016. Their daughter was born in August 2022.
Kaepernick's family has had a pet African spurred tortoise named Sammy since he was 10 years old.
In February 2020, Kaepernick started Kaepernick Publishing. Kaepernick published a children's book titled I Color Myself Different in April 2022 through his publishing company and Scholastic.
On October 29, 2021, Netflix premiered Colin in Black & White, a six-episode limited series about Kaepernick's teenage years. The series was co-created by Kaepernick and Ava DuVernay.
Awards and honors
- 2017 GQ Magazine Citizen of the Year
- 2017 Sports Illustrated Muhammad Ali Legacy Award
- 2017 American Civil Liberties Union Eason Monroe Courageous Advocate Award
- 2017 Puffin/Nation Prize for Creative Citizenship honoree
- 2018 Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience Award
- 2018 Harvard University W. E. B. Du Bois Medal
- 2020 Ripple of Hope Award from the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights
See also
In Spanish: Colin Kaepernick para niños
