“It was just something - I didn't agree with what the flag was representing at this time, and you know, if you look at the original picture where people addressed it, I was trying to sit behind the coolers and out of the way, 'cause I didn't want to interrupt anybody else's right to stand and hold attention to the flag.”

American civil rights activist and former professional football quarterback

Colin Rand Kaepernick is an American civil rights activist and former professional football quarterback. He played six seasons for the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL and became widely known for his protest during the U.S. national anthem in 2016. Kaepernick drew national attention when he knelt before games to protest police brutality and racial inequality in the United States. His public profile has since been closely tied to activism, especially around civil rights and social justice.