“The NFL is a performance-based business, so you should have to perform to earn some of your money. At the same time, I realize that my success isn't just because of what I do out there.”

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.