Just Do It: Kaepernick Edition
Colin Kaepernick, one of the most talented* quarterbacks in the United States, a superstar** athlete who led the San Francisco 49ers to a Super Bowl in 2013, a still unsigned free agent who sat out the entire 2017, is the new face of Nike’s Just Do It campaign, the 30th in the company’s history.
Nike, who signed Kaepernick in 2011, makes a bold public statement for our this era. And it’s rare in the sports:entertainment industrial complex. Not a lot of players, coaches, owners, leagues, or corporate entities are being so strong in a time of intense media and political posturing about anthem protests in professional sports.
“We believe Colin is one of the most inspirational athletes of this generation, who has leveraged the power of sport to help move the world forward,” Gino Fisanotti, Nike’s vice president of brand for North America, told ESPN.
Kaepernick joins other star athletes Odell Beckham Jr., Shaquem Griffin, Lacey Baker, Serena Williams and LeBron James in the 30th anniversary campaign.
The drop comes just two days after an arbitrator in Kaepernick’s case alleging that the N.F.L. and its teams have colluded to keep him out of the league. Kaepernick’s team has enough evidence to move the case forward to a arbitration hearing later this year.
N.F.L. Kickoff is just 4 days away — a Thursday night meeting between the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles and the Atlanta Falcons. No question, Kaepernick’s protest will be on the minds of everyone watching and participating in the game.

Kaernick’s public stance on police brutality began just over two years ago, during a preseason game in late August. At the time, he said that he would “continue to stand with the people that are being oppressed. To me, this is something that has to change. When there’s significant change and I feel that flag represents what it’s supposed to represent, and this country is representing people the way that it’s supposed to, I’ll stand.”
Two years later, that oppression continues. And so does Kaepernick. Willing to sacrifice everything for what he believes. That’s true leadership. It’s what’s made America from the very beginning. Despite the country’s original sins, true patriots have risen up time and time again to fight for something better. Kaepernick joins a chorus of lawyers, activists, teachers, athletes, artists, preachers, and politicians who have taken up the fight for equality before.
This protest is about America. It’s about what it means to belong to a country that drew its foundational strength in revolt. It’s about the brave men and women who have fought and sacrificed to secure life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
America needs to hold up its end of the bargain. For all people.
* Kaepernick has a lifetime QB rating of 88.9. That’s higher than Hall of Famers Dan Marino (86.4) and Brett Favre (86.0). It’s higher than current starters like Cam Newton, Sam Bradford, and Joe Flacco. I think that mets inclusion in “most talented.”
** Is Kaepernick a “high-profile and extremely successful performer or athlete?” No question, yes. He has 2.7m followers on Instagram and 1.89m on Twitter. He’s a former Super Bowl quarterback and a high profile activist.
