Colin Kaepernick: podcast appearances and interviews

Colin Rand Kaepernick is an American civil rights activist and former professional football quarterback. He played six seasons in the National Football League with the San Francisco 49ers. Kaepernick played college football for the Nevada Wolf Pack, where he twice earned the Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year award. He was selected by the 49ers in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft and began his career as a backup to Alex Smith. He became the team's starting quarterback in the middle of the 2012 season after Smith's injury, leading the 49ers to Super Bowl XLVII, the franchise's first appearance since 1994. In his first full season as the starter, he helped the team reach the NFC Championship Game. Over the following years, Kaepernick experienced changes in his starting role as the 49ers missed the playoffs in each of those seasons. In 2016, Kaepernick garnered national attention by kneeling during the national anthem at NFL games in protest of police brutality and racial inequality. His protests received mixed reactions and inspired a broader movement, notably gaining prominence after statements by President Donald Trump. After becoming a free agent, Kaepernick filed a grievance against the NFL alleging collusion to keep him out of the league, which was settled in 2019. His activism and protests have been influential in discussions about social justice and racial equality in the United States.