Kaepernick says he would protest again: a decade after the knee

A decade of kneeling: the origin

In August 2016, Colin Kaepernick sat out of a preseason game to protest police brutality. The act quickly turned into a kneel that spread across the NFL. A year later he became the most recognizable face of athlete activism, sparking both widespread support and intense backlash.

His decision was rooted in the broader Black Lives Matter movement and a series of high‑profile incidents involving unarmed Black men. Kaepernick explained that he could not "stand" for injustice, a sentiment that resonated with many and alienated others.

The personal cost of protest

During his recent BBC Sport interview, Kaepernick described the toll the protest has taken on his career and personal life. He noted three main areas of impact:

Professional setbacks – After becoming a free agent in 2017, no NFL team signed him despite his proven talent.
Financial loss – Endorsements vanished, and he estimates millions of dollars in potential earnings were forfeited.
Family strain – Constant media scrutiny affected his children and his partner, who faced online harassment.

He added that the legal battles over his collusion grievance added another layer of stress, though a settlement was reached in 2023.

Shifts in public opinion and league response

When Kaepernick first knelt, public opinion was sharply divided. A Pew Research Center poll from 2020 showed that 48% of Americans supported the protests, while 44% opposed them. By 2023, support had risen to over 60% as the conversation around systemic racism deepened.

The NFL’s stance also evolved. In 2020 the league issued a statement acknowledging the right of players to protest, as documented in the NFL’s official news release. The organization later introduced policies to protect players expressing social concerns, a shift that Kaepernick said reflects “slow but necessary change”.

Legacy and future activism

Kaepernick’s protest sparked a wave of activism across sports. Players in the NBA, MLB and WNBA have taken similar stands, often citing him as an inspiration. A Harvard Kennedy School study highlighted how athlete protests have increased public awareness of racial inequities, noting a measurable rise in charitable donations to civil‑rights groups after high‑profile demonstrations.

He also founded the "Know Your Rights" foundation, which provides legal assistance and education to marginalized communities. The organization has partnered with the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division to develop community workshops, an effort documented on the Justice Department website.

What Kaepernick says now

When asked whether he would repeat his protest, Kaepernick answered without hesitation: "I would do it again." He explained that the cost of silence, in his view, outweighs any professional sacrifice.

He emphasized three guiding principles for future activists:

Stay grounded in facts and personal experience.
Build coalitions beyond the sport, linking with community leaders and policymakers.
Accept that backlash is part of the process and use it to strengthen resolve.

Looking ahead, Kaepernick hopes that the next generation of athletes will see protest not as a career risk but as a platform for change. He believes the conversation has moved from “whether to kneel” to “how to build lasting equity”.

As the NFL prepares for the 2024 season, the league’s marketing materials feature more diverse narratives, and player-led initiatives are gaining institutional support. Kaepernick’s legacy, once polarizing, now occupies a central place in the dialogue about sport’s role in social justice.