Adidas willing to sign Kaepernick if NFL team signs him

Colin Kaepernick's bid to resume his professional football career received a major vote of confidence Monday.

Adidas North America president Mark King said the apparel giant would sign Kaepernick to an endorsement deal if the quarterback plays in the NFL again.

"If he signs on a team, we would definitely want to sign him," King said via Greg Moore of The Arizona Republic during an appearance at Arizona State's Global Sports Summit.

Kaepernick has been a leading voice in protests against police brutality and racial inequality, drawing the ire of fans and NFL owners alike, and even the President of the United States. The quarterback has been a free agent since opting out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers in March 2017, when it became apparent the team wouldn't keep him in its long-term plans.

"We love athletes that have a platform to make the world a better place," King said. "If they’re an activist in a way that brings attention to something that moves the world forward, even if there's controversy at that moment, we're really interested in those athletes because I think it represents the world today."