Colin Kaepernick opens up about the protest that changed his career

Still training for the dream

Real talk: Colin Kaepernick is still out here waking up at 4:30 a.m. every single day to train. He’s 38 now, and he’s been out of the NFL for a decade, but he says he’s staying "relentless." He’s still hitting the same speed and position workouts he did when he was playing because he wants to be ready if opportunity ever knocks. It’s giving main character energy, even if the league effectively shut him out for being too outspoken.

The moment that started it all

Most of you know the story: 2016. The national anthem. But Kaepernick says it wasn’t some grand, pre-planned strategy. It started with him just sitting on a cool box while injured because he wanted to take a stand against the reality of being Black in America. He was inspired by his own education in Black history and the deaths of Mario Woods, Alton Sterling, and Philando Castile. When he finally took the knee—at the suggestion of teammate Eric Reid—he didn't know it would blow up like this. It was a personal conviction that turned into a global conversation about civil rights, and eventually, a massive backlash.

Surviving the backlash

It wasn't just online hate; it was lowkey terrifying. Kaepernick faced vicious racism, death threats, and had to move out of his home for safety. Politicians like Donald Trump told him to find another country, and others even made wild, baseless claims linking his activism to extremist groups. Through it all, he stayed silent, not wanting to be framed as the "singular voice" of a movement that was much bigger than him. Now, he’s ready to break that silence with his new memoir, The Perilous Fight.

Why it matters

Kaepernick isn't just looking back at the past; he’s trying to move the needle on where the world is heading. As we hit the 10-year anniversary of his protest, he’s sharing his story to keep the dialogue going on the systemic issues he first highlighted in 2016. Whether you agree with his politics or not, his journey reflects a massive shift in how athletes interact with social justice today.