# Colin Kaepernick Reflects on Protest a Decade Later: ‘I Would Do It Again’

- Link: https://the-timenews.com/colin-kaepernick-protest-decade-later/
- Published: 2026-10-28T09:00:46+00:00
- Author: The Time News

# Colin Kaepernick Reflects on Protest a Decade Later: ‘I Would Do It Again’

Former NFL quarterback and civil rights activist Colin Kaepernick says he has no
regrets about his decision to take a knee during the national anthem, affirming 
in recent reflections that “I would do it again” despite the severe personal and
professional costs. The **Colin Kaepernick protest**, which began in 2016, transformed
American sports culture, ignited fierce national debate, and ultimately cost the
former San Francisco 49ers star his football career.

Nearly ten years after first sitting and then kneeling during “The Star-Spangled
Banner” to protest racial injustice and police brutality, Kaepernick remains resolute
in his conviction. His actions catalyzed an unprecedented wave of athlete activism
across global sports while drawing sharp condemnation from political figures, league
executives, and traditionalist fans.

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## The Genesis and Cost of the Colin Kaepernick Protest

In August 2016, during an NFL preseason game, Kaepernick initially remained seated
on the bench during the pregame anthem. After speaking with former NFL player and
U.S. military veteran Nate Boyer, Kaepernick chose to take a knee instead, aiming
to express dissent while maintaining respect for service members.

“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses
Black people and people of color,” Kaepernick said at the time. “To me, this is 
bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way.”

The gesture rapidly spread throughout the league and into other sports, but the 
backlash was immediate. Kaepernick opted out of his contract with the 49ers following
the 2016 season and never played another down in the NFL. Despite compiling a career
passer rating of 88.9 and leading San Francisco to Super Bowl XLVII, he remained
unsigned, leading him to file a grievance against team owners alleging collusion.
The grievance was settled confidentially in 2019.

## Standing Firm Against Professional Blacklisting

Looking back across the decade, Kaepernick acknowledged the immense professional
void created by his blacklisting from the league. However, he emphasized that moral
clarity outweighed athletic achievement. His statement, “I would do it again,” underlines
his commitment to systemic change over personal comfort.

“The price was heavy, but the purpose was greater,” Kaepernick noted in his reflections.
Rather than fading from public view, he channeled his energy into community organizing,
education, and civil rights advocacy.

Through the Know Your Rights Camp, founded by Kaepernick, thousands of underprivileged
youth have received education on legal rights, financial literacy, and community
defense. Kaepernick also founded an independent publishing imprint and partnered
with major cultural platforms to elevate marginalized voices.

## A Transformed Cultural Landscape

A decade removed from Kaepernick’s initial protest, the intersection of sports, 
politics, and social justice looks radically different. In 2020, following the murder
of George Floyd, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell formally apologized on behalf of
the league for failing to listen to players earlier regarding racial injustice.

While the league never explicitly apologized to Kaepernick by name, his stance has
been widely re-evaluated by historians, sociologists, and fellow athletes as a defining
moment in modern civil rights history, drawing comparisons to Muhammad Ali and the
1968 Olympic podium protest by Tommie Smith and John Carlos.

## What Happens Next

Kaepernick continues to maintain his training regimen, though at 37, a return to
the field remains statistically and practically unlikely. Instead, his focus remains
firmly on expanding grassroots initiatives, media projects, and philanthropic support
for criminal justice reform.

The enduring legacy of the **Colin Kaepernick protest** serves as a permanent benchmark
for athlete activism, demonstrating how a silent, peaceful gesture can reshape societal
conversations on racial equality and the real cost of dissent.

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