Kaepernick named one of Time's 100 most influential people
Free-agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick has been named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people of 2017 - and his passage in the piece was written by his former head coach with the San Francisco 49ers, Jim Harbaugh.
Harbaugh, who is now the head coach at Michigan, coached Kaepernick from 2011-14, when the veteran pivot had his most on-field success.
Here is an excerpt:
I thank Colin for all he has contributed to the game of football as an outstanding player and trusted teammate. I also applaud Colin for the courage he has demonstrated in exercising his guaranteed right of free speech. His willingness to take a position at personal cost is now part of our American story.
How lucky for us all and for our country to have among our citizens someone as remarkable as Colin Kaepernick.
Kaepernick was the first NFL player to kneel for the national anthem in protest of social injustice and police brutality in America.
While Kaepernick's decision was divisive, his protest - which led to a handful of other players doing the same during the 2016 season - was one the defining stories of the last year.
The quarterback - whose continued unemployment has been attributed to his decision to kneel - has also pledged to donate $1 million to charitable causes.
Currently, Kaepernick has given away around $600,000 - more than halfway to his target - after his foundation announced Thursday that another $100,000 has been split between three charities.
One of his latest donations before that was a $50,000 gift to Meals on Wheels. The program is facing significant cuts to its federal funding in President Donald Trump's proposed budget plan for 2018.
Tom Brady, coming off his fifth Super Bowl victory, was the only other NFL player named to Time's list.