Colin Kaepernick - wikipedia Colin Kaepernick Colin Kaepernick Kaepernick with the San Francisco 49ers in 2012 Free agent Position : Quarterback Date of birth : ( 1987 - 11 - 03 ) November 3, 1987 ( age 29 ) Place of birth : Milwaukee, Wisconsin Height : 6 ft 4 in ( 1.93 m ) Weight : 230 lb ( 104 kg ) Career information High school : Turlock ( CA ) Pitman College : Nevada NFL Draft : 2011 / Round : 2 / Pick : 36 Career history San Francisco 49ers ( 2011 -- 2016 ) Career highlights and awards 2 × WAC Offensive Player of the Year ( 2008, 2010 ) Career NFL statistics as of 2016 TD -- Int : 72 -- 30 Passing yards : 12,271 Completion percentage : 59.8 Passer rating : 88.9 Rushing yards : 2,300 Rushing touchdowns : 13 Player stats at NFL.com Colin Rand Kaepernick ( / ˈkæpərnɪk / KAP - er - nick ; born November 3, 1987 ) is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. Kaepernick played college football at the University of Nevada, where he was named the Western Athletic Conference ( WAC ) Offensive Player of the Year twice and became the only player in NCAA Division I FBS history to amass 10,000 passing yards and 4,000 rushing yards in a career. After graduating, he was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft. Kaepernick began his professional football career as a backup quarterback to Alex Smith, and became the 49ers ' starter in the middle of the 2012 season after Smith suffered a concussion. He then remained the team 's starting quarterback for the rest of the season, leading the team to their first Super Bowl appearance since 1994. During the 2013 season, his first full season as a starter, Kaepernick helped the 49ers reach the NFC Championship Game. Over the next three seasons, Kaepernick lost and won back his starting job, with the 49ers missing the playoffs for three years consecutively. He opted out of his contract with the 49ers to become a free agent after the 2016 season. In 2016, Kaepernick gained nationwide attention when he began protesting by not standing while the United States national anthem was being played before the start of games. This decision was motivated by what he viewed as the oppression of people of color in the United States. His actions prompted a wide variety of responses, including additional athletes in the NFL and other American sports leagues protesting in various ways during the anthem. Kaepernick 's current free agency status has also been the subject of discussion and controversy. Contents 1 Early life 2 College career 2.1 Recruitment 2.2 Baseball 2.3 Football 2.3. 1 2007 ( freshman season ) 2.3. 2 2008 ( sophomore season ) 2.3. 3 2009 ( junior season ) 2.3. 4 2010 ( senior season ) 2.3. 5 Football statistics 3 Professional career 3.1 2011 NFL Draft 3.2 San Francisco 49ers 3.2. 1 2011 season 3.2. 2 2012 season 3.2. 3 2013 season 3.2. 4 2014 season 3.2. 5 2015 season 3.2. 6 2016 season 4 U.S. national anthem protest 5 Controversy over free agency 6 Professional statistics 6.1 Regular season 6.2 Playoffs 7 Personal life 8 References 9 Further reading 10 External links Early life Kaepernick was born in 1987 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Heidi Russo, a 19 - year - old who was single at the time. His birth father, an African American man, left Russo before Colin was born. Russo placed Colin for adoption with Rick and Teresa Kaepernick, a white couple who had two children -- son Kyle and daughter Devon -- and were looking for a boy after losing two other sons to heart defects. Kaepernick became the youngest of their three children. He lived in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, until age four, and attended grade school in Turlock, California. When Kaepernick was eight years old, he began playing youth football as a defensive end and punter. He then became his youth team 's starting quarterback at age nine, and he completed his first competitive pass for a long touchdown. A 4.0 GPA student at John H. Pitman High School in Turlock, California, Kaepernick played football, basketball and baseball and was nominated for All - State selection in all three sports his senior year. He was the Most Valuable Player ( MVP ) of the Central California Conference in football, leading his school to its first - ever playoff victory. In basketball, he was a first - team all CCC selection at forward and led his 16th - ranked team to a near upset of # 1 ranked Oak Ridge High School in the opening round of playoffs. In that game, Kaepernick scored 34 points, but Ryan Anderson of Oak Ridge scored 50 to lead the Oak Ridge Trojans to victory over John Pitman High School. College career Recruitment Kaepernick achieved most of his accolades in high school as a baseball pitcher and received several scholarship offers in that sport, yet he desperately wanted to play college football. He was almost 6 ' 5 '' as a senior, but weighed only 170 pounds ( 77 kg ) and his coaches generally kept him from running the ball to limit his risk of injury. He also had poor throwing mechanics, despite his strong arm. During his junior year, Larry Nigro, Pitman 's head coach at the time, made a highlight tape that Kaepernick 's brother, Kyle, copied to DVD, then sent to about 100 Football Bowl Subdivision ( FBS, then known as Division I-A ) programs. Kaepernick received some interest but no scholarship offers. Even as a senior, he received little attention from FBS schools. Although the University of Nevada, Reno coaching staff frequently watched video of his high school team, no one from the Nevada Wolf Pack football staff came to Turlock to see him play during his senior football season. Nevada head coach Chris Ault decided to offer him a scholarship after one of his assistants, Barry Sacks, saw Kaepernick dominate a high school basketball game on an evening he was suffering from a fever of 102 ° F ( 39 ° C ). Nevada was the only school to offer him a football scholarship, but was concerned that he would opt for baseball until he signed in February 2006. Baseball Kaepernick was a two - time California all - state baseball player and was listed as a draftable prospect on Major League Baseball 's website in the class of 2006. He earned Northern California athlete of the week honors as a pitcher. As a senior in high school, he threw a 92 mph ( 148 km / h ) fastball, as reported during Kaepernick 's first college football start in 2007 against Boise State. He was also a member of the Brewers Grey squad in the 2005 Area Code games. In his senior year of high school Kaepernick had an ERA of 1.265 with 13 starts and 10 complete games. He finished the year with an 11 -- 2 record with 97 strikeouts and 39 walks. In the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft, Kaepernick was drafted in the 43rd round by the Chicago Cubs. He decided that he wanted to continue to play football at the University of Nevada and chose not to sign with the Cubs. Football 2007 ( freshman season ) Kaepernick started his college career at Nevada playing in 11 of the team 's 13 games. He finished the season with 19 passing touchdowns, three interceptions, and 2,175 passing yards with a 53.8 % completion percentage. Kaepernick also added 593 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns as the Nevada Wolf Pack finished 6 - 7. 2008 ( sophomore season ) As a sophomore, Kaepernick became just the fifth player in NCAA history to pass for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 or more yards in a single season. Some of his notable statistical achievements were : Only NCAA quarterback in 2008 to pass for 2,500 or more yards and rush for 1,000 or more yards. Ranked second among all NCAA QB 's in rushing yardage with 1,130. Ranked seventh among all NCAA players with 7.02 yards per carry. Was tied ninth among all NCAA players with 17 rushing TD 's. Kaepernick, with 1,130 rushing yards, and running back Vai Taua, with 1,521 rushing yards, made 2008 the first year in school history that Nevada had two 1,000 - yard rushers in the same season. Despite playing the entire second half with an ankle injury, he set a new Humanitarian Bowl record with 370 yards passing and was awarded the MVP in a losing effort. He was named the WAC Offensive Player of the Year at the end of the season. He was the first sophomore to win this award since Marshall Faulk of San Diego State did in 1992. He was also named first team All - WAC quarterback. 2009 ( junior season ) Kaepernick was named the pre-season WAC Offensive Player of the Year at the WAC Media 's event in July. On August 3 it was announced he was named to the Davey O'Brien Award pre-season watch list. On August 14 it was announced that he was named to the pre-season Maxwell Award watch list and on August 17 to the Manning Award watch list. Kaepernick led the Wolf Pack to an 8 -- 5 record and a second - place finish in the WAC behind undefeated Boise State. He was named second team All - WAC quarterback. He was the first player in Nevada history to earn the team 's MVP award twice, doing so in 2008 as well. He finished the 2009 season with 2,052 passing yards and 1,183 rushing yards. He became the first player in NCAA history to record back - to - back 2,000 / 1,000 yard seasons. His 1,183 rush yards along with Luke Lippincott 's 1,034 and Vai Taua 's 1,345 makes him a part of the first trio of teammates in NCAA history to rush for 1,000 yards each in the same season. 2010 ( senior season ) Passing against Hawaii in 2010. Entering the 2010 NCAA season, Kaepernick ranked first among active college football players in rushing touchdowns. He was second in yards - per - carry ( behind Wolf Pack teammate Vai Taua ), total offense - per - game, and touchdowns scored. He ranked third in yards - per - play and fourth in pass touchdowns and total number of offensive plays. He was a counselor at the prestigious Manning Passing Academy event in Thibodaux, Louisiana, during the 2010 camp. His performance drew praise from various NFL and ESPN personnel including former New York Giants quarterback Jesse Palmer who said of Kaepernick, `` by far, the strongest arm in the camp ''. Kaepernick in 2010. It was also announced that Kaepernick, along with teammates Taua and Lippincott, would have a display in the College Football Hall of Fame commemorating their being the first players in NCAA history to each break 1,000 yards rushing on the same team during the same season. Kaepernick was named to the watch list for six major college football awards : the Manning Award, the Davey O'Brien Award, the Paul Hornung Award, the Maxwell Award, the Unitas Award, and the Walter Camp Award. On November 26, Kaepernick led his team to a 34 -- 31 overtime victory against the previously undefeated Boise State Broncos, snapping a 24 - game win streak that had dated back to the 2008 Poinsettia Bowl. This game was played on Nevada 's senior night, the final home game for Kaepernick. Nevada Head Coach Chris Ault would later call this game the `` most important win in program history ''. During this game, Kaepernick surpassed 1,000 rushing yards for this season, becoming the first player in NCAA history to have over 2,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing for three consecutive seasons. Along with Taua 's 131 yards rushing in the game, the duo became the NCAA 's all - time leaders in rushing yards by teammates ( 8,285 ) passing the legendary SMU `` Pony Express '' duo of Eric Dickerson and Craig James ( 8,193 ). On December 4 against Louisiana Tech University, Kaepernick joined Florida 's Tim Tebow as the second quarterback in FBS history to throw for 20 touchdowns and run for 20 in the same season. Later that same evening, Auburn 's Cam Newton joined Tebow and Kaepernick as the third. Kaepernick 's three rushing touchdowns in that game also placed him in a tie with former Nebraska quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch for most rushing touchdowns in FBS history by a quarterback with 59 in his career. Nevada claimed a share of the WAC title after defeating Louisiana Tech. Kaeperick was named WAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year with Kellen Moore, who won the award in 2009. Kaepernick is the only quarterback in the history of Division I FBS college football to have passed for over 10,000 yards and rushed for over 4,000 yards in a collegiate career. He is also the only Division 1 FBS quarterback to have passed for over 2,000 yards and rushed for over 1,000 yards in a single season three times in a career ( consecutively ). Kaepernick graduated from Nevada in December 2010 with a bachelor 's degree in business management and is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. Football statistics Passing Rushing Season Team GP Att Comp Comp % Yards TD INT RAT Att Yards Avg TD 2006 Nevada -- Redshirt 2007 Nevada 11 247 133 53.8 % 2,175 19 150.8 105 593 5.6 6 2008 Nevada 13 383 208 54.3 % 2,849 22 7 132.1 161 1,130 7.0 17 2009 Nevada 13 282 166 58.9 % 2,052 20 6 139.1 161 1,183 7.3 16 Nevada 14 359 233 64.9 % 3,022 21 8 150.5 173 1,206 7.0 20 Career 1,271 740 58.2 % 10,098 82 24 142.5 600 4,112 6.9 59 Professional career Upon graduation, Kaepernick signed with XAM Sports and Entertainment. He spent time in Atlanta, Georgia, training for the NFL Scouting Combine at Competitive Edge Sports with trainer Chip Smith and quarterbacks coach Roger Theder. 2011 NFL Draft Pre-draft measurables Ht Wt Arm length Hand size 40 ‐ yd dash 10 - yd split 20 - yd split 20 ‐ ss 3 ‐ cone Vert jump Broad BP Wonderlic 6 ft 4 ⁄ in ( 1.95 m ) 233 lb ( 106 kg ) 33 ⁄ in ( 0.85 m ) 9 ⁄ in ( 0.23 m ) 4.53 s 1.62 s 2.63 s 4.18 s 6.85 s 32 ⁄ in ( 0.83 m ) 9 ft 7 in ( 2.92 m ) x reps 37 All values from NFL Combine On April 29, 2011, the San Francisco 49ers traded up with the Denver Broncos from the thirteenth pick in the second round ( # 45 overall ) to select Kaepernick as the fourth pick in the second round ( # 36 overall ) at the 2011 NFL Draft. The Broncos received picks 45, 108, and 141 overall in exchange for the 36th overall pick. San Francisco 49ers 2011 season For the 2011 preseason, Kaepernick completed 24 - of - 50 passes for 257 yards and five interceptions. Kaepernick spent the 2011 season as backup to Alex Smith and played his first game in Week 4 ( October 2 ) on the road against the Philadelphia Eagles. On third down and 17 during the first quarter, he came in for Smith as quarterback with the offense in shotgun formation and handed off to Frank Gore, who ran for five yards. In the Week 5 ( October 9 ) home game, a 48 -- 3 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kaepernick completed three passes for 35 yards. However, he failed to complete two passes in the 49ers ' Week 13 ( December 4 ) game, a 26 -- 0 win over the St. Louis Rams. The 49ers finished the 2011 regular season 13 -- 3 but lost the NFC championship to the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants. 2012 season Kaepernick in Super Bowl XLVII. In 2012 against the New York Jets, Kaepernick scored his first career touchdown on a seven - yard run. Throughout the early season, Kaepernick was used as a wildcat quarterback. In Week 10 against the St. Louis Rams, Kaepernick replaced starter Alex Smith, who had suffered a concussion in the first half. However, the game would end in a rare 24 -- 24 tie, the first tie in the NFL in four years. With Smith still recovering, Kaepernick got his first NFL start the next game on November 19, during a Monday Night Football game against the Chicago Bears at Candlestick Park. Kaepernick completed 16 - of - 23 for 246 yards with two touchdowns in a 32 -- 7 win against a highly ranked Bears defense. 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh spoke highly of Kaepernick 's performance after the game, leaving open the possibility of Kaepernick continuing to start. `` Usually tend to go with the guy who 's got the hot hand, and we 've got two quarterbacks that have got a hot hand '', Harbaugh said. A quarterback controversy began. Smith was ranked third in the NFL in passer rating ( 104.1 ), led the league in completion percentage ( 70 % ), and had been 19 -- 5 -- 1 as a starter under Harbaugh, while Kaepernick was considered more dynamic with his scrambling ability and arm strength. Smith was cleared to play the day before the following game, but Harbaugh chose not to rush him back and again started Kaepernick. In a rematch of the 2012 playoffs against the New Orleans Saints, the 49ers won 31 -- 21 with Kaepernick throwing for a touchdown and running for another. The following week, Harbaugh announced that Kaepernick would start for the 8 -- 2 -- 1 49ers against St. Louis. Harbaugh stated that Kaepernick 's assignment was week - to - week, not necessarily permanent, but he remained the starter for the rest of the season. In his first career postseason start, the 49ers won 45 -- 31 against the Green Bay Packers, and he set an NFL single - game record for most rushing yards by a quarterback with 181, breaking Michael Vick 's record of 173 in a 2002 regular season game. He also broke the 49ers postseason rushing record, regardless of position. Kaepernick carried the ball 16 times for 181 yards and scrambled five times for 75 yards, including touchdowns of 20 and 56 yards, and collected another 99 yards rushing on zone - read option plays. He also passed for 263 yards and two touchdowns. In total, Kaepernick had 444 yards of total offense with four touchdowns. Kaepernick became the third player after Jay Cutler in 2011 and Otto Graham in both 1954 and 1955 to run for two touchdowns and pass for two others in a playoff game. In the NFC Championship game, the 49ers defeated the Atlanta Falcons 28 -- 24 with Kaepernick completing 16 - of - 21 passes for 233 yards and one touchdown. The team advanced to Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans against the Baltimore Ravens. Kaepernick threw for a touchdown and ran for another, but the 49ers fell behind early and could not come back, losing by a score of 31 -- 34. 2013 season Kaepernick in 2013. In the season opener of the 2013 season against the Green Bay Packers, Kaepernick threw for a career - high 412 yards and three touchdowns, the first 400 - yard game by a 49ers quarterback since Tim Rattay on October 10, 2004. Of the total 412 yards, 208 yards were to newly acquired teammate Anquan Boldin, making his debut as a 49er. In addition, Kaepernick 's performance also marked the first 400 - yard passing with three touchdowns performance by a 49ers quarterback since Jeff Garcia in the 1999 season. In the NFC Championship Game against eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, Kaepernick rushed for 130 yards, including a 58 - yard run, and passed for 153 yards. The 49ers led until the fourth quarter. Two turnovers by Kaepernick led to the Seahawks having a 23 -- 17 lead with a few minutes left. Kaepernick drove the 49ers to the red zone but with 22 seconds left, Kaepernick 's pass intended for Michael Crabtree was tipped by Seattle 's Richard Sherman and intercepted by Malcolm Smith, ending the 49ers ' season and attempt to return to the Super Bowl. Kaepernick ended the season with 3,197 yards passing, 21 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions. He also finished with 524 yards rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. 2014 season On June 4, Kaepernick signed a six - year contract extension with the 49ers, worth up to $126 million, including $54 million in potential guarantees, and $13 million fully guaranteed. On September 17, Kaepernick was fined by the NFL for using inappropriate language on the field. On October 9, he was fined $10,000 by the NFL for appearing at a post-game press conference wearing headphones from Beats by Dre, while the league 's headphone sponsor was Bose. In a game against the San Diego Chargers, he recorded a 90 - yard run for a touchdown. The 49ers finished the season 8 -- 8 and failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2010. Kaepernick threw for 3,369 yards with 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He rushed for 639 yards and one touchdown. Following the season, head coach Jim Harbaugh left to coach the University of Michigan. 2015 season In 2015, Kaepernick struggled under new head coach Jim Tomsula. A day after a 27 -- 6 collapse at St. Louis in Week 8, Kaepernick lost his starting job to backup Blaine Gabbert for Week 9 against Atlanta. With Gabbert starting as their new quarterback, the 49ers narrowly won 17 -- 16. On November 21, the 49ers announced that Kaepernick would miss the rest of the season because of an injured left shoulder that required surgery. He finished the season with 1,615 yards passing, six passing touchdowns, five interceptions and 256 rushing yards with one rushing touchdown. Head coach Tomsula was fired following the season and the 49ers hired Chip Kelly as his replacement. In February 2016, Kaepernick expressed an interest in being traded. 2016 season Kaepernick entered the 2016 season competing for starting quarterback position with Gabbert. On September 3, 2016, 49ers head coach Chip Kelly named Gabbert as the starter for the beginning of the 2016 season. Prior to the 49ers Week 6 game against the Buffalo Bills, Kelly announced Kaepernick would start, marking his first start of the season. On October 13, it was announced that he and the 49ers restructured his contract, turning it into a two - year deal with a player option for the next season. He completed 13 - of - 29 passes, with 187 passing yards, one passing touchdown and 66 rushing yards in the 49ers 45 - 16 loss to the Buffalo Bills. On November 27, he recorded 296 passing yards, three passing touchdowns and 113 yards rushing in the 49ers ' 24 - 31 loss to the Miami Dolphins. He joined Michael Vick, Cam Newton, Randall Cunningham, and Marcus Mariota as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to record at least three passing touchdowns and 100 yards rushing in a game. In a Week 13 loss to the Chicago Bears, Kaepernick threw a career - low four yards before getting benched for Gabbert. He returned to the starting lineup the following week and threw for 183 yards and two touchdowns in the 49ers ' 13 - 41 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. On December 24, Kaepernick recorded 281 total yards, two passing touchdowns, one interception, one rushing touchdown, and a two - point conversion on the game - winning drive as the 49ers beat the Los Angeles Rams 22 - 21 to get their first victory on the season with Kaepernick as the starter. For the 2016 NFL season, Kaepernick played twelve games and ended the season with 2,241 passing yards, sixteen passing touchdowns, four interceptions and added 468 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. On March 3, 2017, Kaepernick officially opted out of his contract with the 49ers, an option as part of his restructured contract, therefore making him a free agent at the start of the 2017 league year. U.S. national anthem protest Main article : U.S. national anthem protests ( 2016 -- present ) The first time Kaepernick was noticed sitting down during the playing of `` The Star - Spangled Banner, '' as opposed to the tradition of standing, was the 49ers third preseason game in 2016. However, he sat during The Star - Spangled Banner of their first two games despite not dressing for play. During a post-game interview, he explained his position stating, `` I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder '', referencing a series of events that led to the Black Lives Matter movement and adding that he would continue to protest until he feels like `` ( the American flag ) represents what it 's supposed to represent ''. In the 49ers ' final 2016 preseason game on September 1, 2016, Kaepernick opted to kneel during the U.S. national anthem rather than sit as he did in their previous games. He explained his decision to switch was an attempt to show more respect to former and current U.S. military members while still protesting during the anthem after having a conversation with former NFL player and U.S. military veteran Nate Boyer. After the September 2016 police shootings of Terence Crutcher and Keith Lamont Scott, Kaepernick commented publicly on the shootings saying, `` this is a perfect example of what this is about. '' Kaepernick soon became highly polarizing as numerous people took public stances either supporting or maligning Kaepernick 's actions ; in many cases this polarization correlates with racial divisions. Various members of the NFL and other athletes across the United States, such as Megan Rapinoe, also began kneeling and / or raising their fist like the 1968 Olympics Black Power salute during the playing of the U.S. national anthem. Some U.S. military veterans voiced support using the social media hashtag `` # VeteransForKaepernick ''. In the following weeks, Kaepernick 's jersey became the top - selling jersey on the NFL 's official shop website. An NFL fan poll was taken during the beginning of the 2016 NFL season and Kaepernick was voted the most disliked player in the NFL ; this poll was polarized, with 37 % of Caucasians disliking him `` a lot '', and 42 % of African - Americans liking him `` a lot. '' A few people posted videos of them burning Kaepernick jerseys. Former NFL MVP Boomer Esiason called Kaepernick 's actions `` an embarrassment '' while an anonymous NFL executive called Kaepernick `` a traitor ''. The 2016 NFL season also saw a significant drop in their television ratings. Polls suggest that fans boycotting the NFL because of Kaepernick - inspired protests were a contributor to the decline in viewers. He also stated that he received death threats. In September 2016, sociology professor Michael Eric Dyson wrote of the double bind faced by black people : `` Black folk have, throughout history, displayed their patriotism by criticizing the nation for its shortcomings, and they have been, in turn, roundly criticized. '' Dyson suggested that the wisdom of the abolitionist Frederick Douglass maintains relevance to racism in the context of Kaepernick and protest. Dyson concluded, `` When a black athlete bravely speaks up, we punish him. '' In August 2017, former NYPD officer Frank Serpico gave a speech live on Facebook and stood with police officers at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge in support of Kaepernick. The same month, Pro Football Hall of Famer and longtime civil rights activist Jim Brown told an interviewer that while he `` wants to be in ( Kaepernick 's ) corner '', he would never `` desecrate my flag and my national anthem. '' In September 2017, President Donald Trump sent out multiple tweets advocating that NFL players should be either fired or suspended if they fail to stand up for the national anthem. In response, many NFL teams and players stood together to protest President Trump 's beliefs in the form of kneeling, locking arms, or even remaining in the locker room during the performance of the anthem. Controversy over free agency Following his departure from the 49ers, Kaepernick went unsigned through the offseason and 2017 training camps. Some commentators argued that he was not signed because his performance had declined, while others disputed those interpretations and argued that he was being blackballed because of his on - field political actions. By August 2017, the statistics website FiveThirtyEight concluded that `` it 's obvious Kaepernick is being frozen out for his political opinions '', calling it `` extraordinary... that a player like him ca n't find a team '', after finding that `` no above - average quarterback ( measured by the total quarterback rating ) has been unemployed nearly as long as Kaepernick this offseason ''. New England Patriot 's quarterback Tom Brady openly spoke on this issue in a CBS interview. He believes that Kaepernick is qualified and deserves to play for an NFL team simply based on his accomplishments during the 2012 season where he led the 49ers to Super Bowl XLVII. President Donald Trump took credit for Kaepernick 's situation, claiming he would use Twitter to create a public relations crisis for any team that signed him. In late July and early August, the Baltimore Ravens were working to extend an offer to Kaepernick. According to Ray Lewis, the offer was terminated after a tweet by Kaepernick 's girlfriend compared the Ravens team owner Steve Bisciotti to a slave owner. According to other reports, Bisciotti had been objecting to signing Kaepernick even before the incident. Professional statistics Regular season Year Team Games Passing Rushing Sacked Fumbles Record GS Comp Att Pct Yds Avg TD Int Rtg Att Yds Avg TD Sack Yds Fum Lost Win - Loss 2011 SF 0 5 60.0 35 7.0 0 0 81.2 − 2 − 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -- 0 2012 SF 13 7 136 218 62.4 1,814 8.3 10 98.3 63 415 6.6 5 16 112 9 5 -- 2 2013 SF 16 16 243 416 58.4 3,197 7.7 21 8 91.6 92 524 5.7 39 231 6 12 -- 4 2014 SF 16 16 289 478 60.5 3,369 7.0 19 10 86.4 104 639 6.1 52 344 8 5 8 -- 8 2015 SF 9 8 144 244 59.0 1,615 6.6 6 5 78.5 45 256 5.7 28 166 5 2 -- 6 2016 SF 12 11 196 331 59.2 2,241 6.8 16 90.7 69 468 6.8 36 207 9 1 -- 10 Total 69 57 1,011 1,692 59.8 12,271 7.3 72 30 88.9 375 2,300 6.1 13 171 1,060 37 15 28 -- 30 Playoffs Year Team GS Passing Rushing Sacked Fumbles Record Comp Att Pct Yds Y / A TD Int Rtg Att Yds Avg TD Sack Yds Fum Lost W / L ( as starter ) 2012 SF 49 80 61.3 798 10.0 100.9 25 264 10.6 5 32 0 2 -- 1 2013 SF 45 82 54.9 576 7.0 74.0 26 243 9.3 6 26 2 -- 1 Total ‡ 6 6 94 162 58.0 1,374 8.5 7 5 87.3 51 507 9.9 5 11 58 4 -- 2 Personal life Kaepernick was baptized Methodist, confirmed Lutheran, and attended a Baptist church during his college years. Kaepernick spoke about his faith saying, `` My faith is the basis from where my game comes from. I 've been very blessed to have the talent to play the game that I do and be successful at it. I think God guides me through every day and helps me take the right steps and has helped me to get to where I 'm at. When I step on the field, I always say a prayer, say I am thankful to be able to wake up that morning and go out there and try to glorify the Lord with what I do on the field. I think if you go out and try to do that, no matter what you do on the field, you can be happy about what you did. '' Kaepernick has multiple tattoos. His right arm features a scroll with the Bible verse Psalm 18 : 39 written on it. Tattooed under the scroll are praying hands with the phrase `` To God The Glory '' written on them. To the left of both the scroll and praying hands is the word `` Faith '' written vertically. His left arm features a Christian cross with the words `` Heaven Sent '' on it referring to Jesus. Written above and below the cross is the phrase `` God Will Guide Me ''. Written to the left and right of the cross is the Bible verse Psalm 27 : 3. His chest features the phrase `` Against All Odds '' and artwork around it that represents `` inner strength, spiritual growth, and humility ''. His back features a mural of angels against demons. Near the end of the 2012 NFL season, Kaepernick 's signature touchdown celebration involved flexing and kissing the bicep of his right arm. Kaepernick says he kisses his `` Faith '', `` To God The Glory '', and Psalm 18 : 39 tattoos and the reason he does the celebration is because `` God has brought me this far. He has laid out a phenomenal path for me. And I ca n't do anything but thank Him. '' Kaepernick reportedly started dating radio personality and television host Nessa in July 2015, and officially went public about their relationship in February 2016. Kaepernick began following a vegan diet in late 2015. References Jump up ^ Farmer, Sam ( January 17, 2013 ). `` Kaepernick is suddenly a big name, and now we know how to say it '' -- via LA Times. Jump up ^ `` Colin Kaepernick explains why he sat during national anthem ''. NFL.com. Retrieved 2017 - 08 - 20. Jump up ^ Boren, Cindy. `` Colin Kaepernick reportedly will now stand during the national anthem ''. chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2017 - 08 - 20. Jump up ^ Yorkey, Mike ( August 1, 2013 ). `` Playing with Purpose : Football : Inside the Lives and Faith of the NFL 's Most Intriguing Personalities ''. Barbour Publishing -- via Google Books. ^ Jump up to : Reily, Rick ( January 30, 2013 ). `` A call Kaepernick should make ''. ESPN.com. Archived from the original on February 2, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Painful Losses Endure For Kaepernicks ''. npr.com. Associated Press. January 31, 2013. Archived from the original on February 25, 2013. Jump up ^ Wise, Mike ( January 30, 2013 ). `` Super Bowl : Colin Kaepernick is n't out of central casting, but he may become new poster boy ''. The Washington Post. Archived from the original on February 25, 2013. ^ Jump up to : Himmelbach, Adam ( August 28, 2010 ). `` Not a Household Name, Not Even in Nevada ''. The New York Times. Retrieved October 4, 2010. ^ Jump up to : Adelson, Andrea ( October 4, 2010 ). `` Colin Kaepernick more than star QB ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved October 4, 2010. Jump up ^ Klemko, Robert ( November 30, 2012 ). `` Colin Kaepernick 's parents upset at criticism of son 's tattoos ''. USA Today. Retrieved January 30, 2013. Jump up ^ Hale, Jennifer ( May 4, 2014 ). `` Ryan Anderson recalls going up against Colin Kaepernick in high school ''. FoxSports.com. Archived from the original on March 20, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Kaepernick 's First Start ( part 1 ) ''. YouTube. Retrieved October 13, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Draft : 2009 DraftTracker ''. Mlb.mlb.com. June 19, 2012. Retrieved January 22, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The story behind the Cubs drafting 49ers quarterback Kaepernick ''. Csnchicago.com. December 12, 2012. Archived from the original on December 14, 2012. Retrieved January 22, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Colin Kaepernick College Stats College Football at Sports-Reference.com ''. College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2017 - 10 - 03. Jump up ^ `` Colin Kaepernick College Stats - College Football at Sports-Reference.com ''. College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Jump up ^ 2008 Roady 's Humanitarian Bowl Media Guide Archived June 10, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Nevada Wolf Pack, University of Nevada Athletic Media Services Office, retrieved January 2, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Arming the Pistol -- Nevada Wolf Pack Sports and News ''. Silverandbluesports.com. July 20, 2010. Retrieved October 13, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Hall of Fame to honor Nevada trio ''. ESPN.com. Associated Press. August 4, 2010. Retrieved October 16, 2010. Jump up ^ Kaepernick profile at nmnathletics.com Archived May 29, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ `` 2011 NCAA Football Records '' ( PDF ). NCAA. p. 6. Retrieved January 15, 2013. Jump up ^ Cripe, Chadd ( December 6, 2010 ). `` WAC names Moore, Kaepernick Co-Offensive Players of the Year ; 11 Broncos make All - WAC first team ''. Idaho Statesman. Archived from the original on February 16, 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Colin Kaepernick, DS # 7 QB, Nevada ''. The Sports Xchange. Archived from the original on October 13, 2013. Retrieved October 2, 2012. ^ Jump up to : `` Colin Kaepernick game logs 2011 ''. NFL. Retrieved November 19, 2012. Jump up ^ `` San Francisco 49ers vs. Philadelphia Eagles play by play, October 2, 2011 ''. ESPN. Retrieved November 19, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Kaepernick Draws First Blood with TD in ' Niners Win Over Jets ''. Kolotv.com. September 30, 2012. Retrieved October 13, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Packers preparing for 49ers to use Colin Kaepernick in the Wildcat ProFootballTalk ''. Profootballtalk.nbcsports.com. September 7, 2012. Retrieved October 13, 2012. Jump up ^ `` 49ers, Rams play to NFL 's first tie in four years ''. Retrieved August 30, 2016. Jump up ^ Davis, Nate ( November 19, 2012 ). `` 49ers ' Alex Smith out vs. Bears, Colin Kaepernick to start ''. USA today. Retrieved November 20, 2012. Jump up ^ Samano, Simon ( November 20, 2012 ). `` Alex Smith or Colin Kaepernick ? 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh would n't say after win over Bears ''. USA Today. Archived from the original on November 21, 2012. Jump up ^ Dodds, Eric ( November 28, 2012 ). `` Examining the 49ers Quarterback Controversy ''. time.com. Archived from the original on November 28, 2012. Jump up ^ Sando, Mike ( November 27, 2012 ). `` Reaching back for 49ers QB parallels ''. ESPN.com. Archived from the original on November 28, 2012. Jump up ^ Sando, Mike ( November 26, 2012 ). `` Victory trumps QB confusion for 49ers ''. ESPN.com. Archived from the original on November 26, 2012. Jump up ^ Klemko, Robert ( November 26, 2012 ). `` Kaepernick does n't disappoint as 49ers defeat Saints ''. USA Today. Archived from the original on November 26, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Colin Kaepernick to start for 49ers ''. ESPN.com. November 28, 2012. Archived from the original on November 28, 2012. ^ Jump up to : `` Colin Kaepernick sets QB rushing mark as Niners oust Packers ''. ESPN.com. January 12, 2013. Retrieved January 14, 2013. Jump up ^ Inman, Cam ( January 12, 2013 ). `` Putting Kaepernick 's rushing performance in franchise, league perspective ''. San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved January 14, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Ravens vs. 49ers -- Game Recap -- February 3, 2013 -- ESPN ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved August 30, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Colin Kaepernick Salary cap and Contract page ''. Over the Cap. Retrieved August 5, 2014. Jump up ^ Gutierrez, Paul ( September 17, 2014 ). `` Colin Kaepernick fined $11 K by NFL ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved October 1, 2014. Jump up ^ Barrows, Matt ( October 9, 2014 ). `` Colin Kaepernick 's fine - canceling headphones ''. The Sacramento Bee. Archived from the original on October 11, 2014. Retrieved October 9, 2014. Jump up ^ Wesseling, Chris ( November 2, 2015 ). `` Niners bench Colin Kaepernick ; Blaine Gabbert to start ''. NFL.com. Retrieved January 4, 2016. Jump up ^ Inman, Cam ( November 21, 2015 ). `` 49ers ' Colin Kaepernick done for season because of shoulder injury ''. San Jose Mercury News. Jump up ^ `` 49ers hire Chip Kelly as next head coach : 5 things to know ''. Retrieved August 30, 2016. Jump up ^ Brady, James ( February 26, 2016 ). `` Kaepernick 's request does n't mean he wo n't stay ''. Niners Nation. Retrieved August 30, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Hard to see how Colin Kaepernick can overtake Blaine Gabbert now ''. Retrieved August 30, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Kaepernick makes roster ; Gabbert named starting QB ''. Retrieved September 8, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Kaepernick, Niners work out restructured deal ''. Jump up ^ `` 49ers vs. Bills - Box Score - October 16, 2016 - ESPN ''. ESPN.com. Jump up ^ `` 49ers vs. Rams - Box Score - December 24, 2016 - ESPN ''. ESPN.com. Jump up ^ `` Baltimore Ravens could sign QB Colin Kaepernick ''. Sky Sports. August 13, 2017. Jump up ^ Fann, Joe ( March 3, 2017 ). `` Colin Kaepernick Opts Out of Contract, Becomes a Free Agent ''. 49ers.com. Jump up ^ `` All the athletes who joined Kaepernick 's national anthem protest ''. SBNation.com. Retrieved 2017 - 10 - 11. Jump up ^ Wyche, Steve ( August 27, 2016 ). `` Colin Kaepernick explains why he sat during national anthem ''. NFL.com. Retrieved August 27, 2016. Jump up ^ Fucillo, David ( August 27, 2016 ). `` NFL issues statement on Colin Kaepernick not standing during National Anthem ''. Retrieved September 8, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Colin Kaepernick Takes The Field In Socks That Depict Cops As Pigs ''. Retrieved September 8, 2016. Jump up ^ `` This Time, Colin Kaepernick Takes a Stand by Kneeling ''. September 1, 2016. Retrieved March 9, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Silence From Kaepernick Critics Speaks Volumes ''. The Huffington Post. Retrieved September 21, 2016. ^ Jump up to : `` US : Colin Kaepernick says he has received death threats ''. Al Jazeera. September 22, 2016. ^ Jump up to : `` Poll : Kaepernick is most disliked player in NFL ''. Jump up ^ `` U.S. Soccer banned Megan Rapinoe 's national anthem protest without caring to understand it ''. SBNation.com. Retrieved 2017 - 10 - 11. Jump up ^ `` NFL players now taking their protests onto the field ''. New York Post. 2017 - 09 - 17. Retrieved 2017 - 10 - 11. Jump up ^ CNN, Eliott C. McLaughlin and Darran Simon,. `` NFL anthem protests continue ''. CNN. Retrieved 2017 - 10 - 11. Jump up ^ Dator, James ( August 31, 2016 ). `` U.S. military members show support for Kaepernick ''. Retrieved September 8, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Kaepernick Says He 'll Donate Proceeds From Top - Selling Jersey ''. ABC News. September 7, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2016. Jump up ^ Freeman, Mike. `` Kaepernick Anger Intense in NFL Front Offices ''. Retrieved September 8, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Yes, Colin Kaepernick is hurting NFL ratings ''. Jump up ^ Dyson, Michael Eric ( 2016 - 09 - 06 ). `` The courage of Colin Kaepernick ''. The Undefeated. Retrieved 2017 - 09 - 18. Jump up ^ Wang, Vivian ( 2017 - 08 - 19 ). `` New York Police Officers Rally in Support of Colin Kaepernick ''. The New York Times. ISSN 0362 - 4331. Retrieved 2017 - 08 - 26. Jump up ^ `` Frank Serpico joins NYPD officers for rally in support of Colin Kaepernick ''. Washington Post. Retrieved 2017 - 08 - 26. Jump up ^ `` Jim Brown on Colin Kaepernick : ' I do n't desecrate my flag and my national anthem ' ''. USA Today. August 25, 2017. Retrieved August 25, 2017. Jump up ^ Hoffman, Mather, and Fortin, Benjamin, Victor, and Jacey. `` After Trump Blasts N.F.L., Players Kneel and Lock Arms in Solidarity ''. NY Times. The New York Times. Retrieved 26 September 2017. CS1 maint : Multiple names : authors list ( link ) ^ Jump up to : Levin, Josh. `` The NFL 's Billionaire Owners Are Too Late to Stop Colin Kaepernick ''. Slate Magazine. Retrieved 2017 - 08 - 20. Jump up ^ `` The Colin Kaepernick debate is broken -- both sides are wrong ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017 - 08 - 20. Jump up ^ `` Michael Vick : Colin Kaepernick 's problem is his play, not his protest ''. Jump up ^ Blackistone, Kevin B. `` The NFL has effectively blackballed Colin Kaepernick ''. chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2017 - 08 - 20. Jump up ^ `` The NFL 's War Against Colin Kaepernick ''. The Nation. ISSN 0027 - 8378. Retrieved 2017 - 08 - 20. Jump up ^ Wagner, Kyle ( 2017 - 08 - 09 ). `` Colin Kaepernick Is Not Supposed To Be Unemployed ''. FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved 2017 - 09 - 08. Jump up ^ Reiss, Mike. `` Tom Brady on Colin Kaepernick : ' I hope he gets a shot ' ''. ESPN. Retrieved 26 September 2017. Jump up ^ Griffiths, Brent D. ; Jackson, Henry C. ( September 22, 2017 ). `` Trump sparks war with NFL -- and LeBron ''. Politico. Retrieved September 23, 2017. In March, Trump claimed during a rally in Kentucky that Kaepernick 's inability to find a new team was due to fear that president would unleash a tweet and therefore a PR crisis on whatever team that signed the Super Bowl XLVII participant. Jump up ^ Watkins, Eli ( March 21, 2017 ). `` Trump credits his Twitter wrath for Kaepernick 's unemployment ''. CNN. Retrieved September 23, 2017. It was reported that NFL owners do n't want to pick him up because they do n't want to get a nasty tweet from Donald Trump, '' he said. `` Do you believe that ? I just saw that. I just saw that. Jump up ^ `` Ray Lewis said Ravens would have signed Colin Kaepernick if not for girlfriend 's tweet ''. Jump up ^ `` Ray Lewis Says Ravens Did n't Sign Colin Kaepernick Because Of This Tweet ''. ^ Jump up to : `` Colin Kaepernick NFL Football Statistics -- Pro-Football-Reference.com ''. Jump up ^ Saracevic, Al ( November 30, 2012 ). `` Kaepernick sparks tattoo controversy ''. San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved February 4, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Faith Based : Former Nevada standout speaks at local church about life, athletics ''. Archived from the original on January 16, 2013. ^ Jump up to : `` Super Bowl 2013 : Colin Kaepernick 's tattoos more than skin deep ''. Jump up ^ `` Colin Kaepernick Does Not Care What You Think About His Tattoos ''. Jump up ^ `` Colin Kaepernick shows off his post-Super Bowl tattoos ''. Jump up ^ `` Kaepernick social media posts laud Black Lives Matter, Black Panthers since dating activist DJ ''. Fox News. August 30, 2016. Retrieved September 21, 2016. Jump up ^ `` 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and MTV 's Nessa go public with relationship ''. San Jose Mercury News. Bay Area News Group. February 17, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016. Jump up ^ Maiocco, Matt ( August 30, 2016 ). `` Kaepernick : Weight loss not due to vegan diet ''. CSN Bay Area. Retrieved September 28, 2016. Further reading Branch, John ( September 7, 2017 ). `` The Awakening of Colin Kaepernick ''. The New York Times. ISSN 0362 - 4331. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Colin Kaepernick. Official website San Francisco 49ers profile ESPN.com profile Nevada Wolf Pack starting quarterbacks Stan Heath ( 1947 -- 1948 ) Chris Ault ( 1965 -- 1967 ) Jeff Tisdel ( 1974 -- 1977 ) Larry Worman ( 1978 -- 1979 ) Jeff Ardito ( 1980 ) Marshall Sperbeck ( 1981 -- 1982 ) Eric Beavers ( 1983 -- 1986 ) Jim Zaccheo ( 1987 -- 1988 ) Fred Gatlin ( 1989 -- 1991 ) Chris Vargas ( 1991 -- 1993 ) Mike Maxwell ( 1994 -- 1995 ) Eric Bennett ( 1995 ) John Dutton ( 1996 -- 1997 ) David Neill ( 1998 -- 2001 ) Zack Threadgill ( 2002 ) Andy Heiser ( 2003 ) Jeff Rowe ( 2004 -- 2006 ) Travis Moore ( 2006 ) Nick Graziano ( 2007 ) Colin Kaepernick ( 2007 -- 2010 ) Tyler Lantrip ( 2011 ) Cody Fajardo ( 2011 -- 2014 ) Devin Combs ( 2012 -- 2013 ) Tyler Stewart ( 2013, 2015 -- 2016 ) Ty Gangi ( 2016 -- 2017 ) Kaymen Cureton ( 2017 ) San Francisco 49ers 2011 NFL draft selections Aldon Smith Colin Kaepernick Chris Culliver Kendall Hunter Daniel Kilgore Ronald Johnson Colin Jones Bruce Miller Mike Person Curtis Holcomb San Francisco 49ers starting quarterbacks Frankie Albert ( 1946 -- 1952 ) Y.A. Tittle ( 1951 -- 1960 ) Jim Powers ( 1953 ) Jim Cason ( 1954 ) Earl Morrall ( 1956 ) John Brodie ( 1957 -- 1973 ) Lamar McHan ( 1963 ) Bob Waters ( 1963 ) George Mira ( 1964 -- 1967 ) Steve Spurrier ( 1967, 1969, 1972 -- 1973, 1975 ) Joe Reed ( 1973 -- 1974 ) Tom Owen ( 1974 -- 1975 ) Dennis Morrison ( 1974 ) Norm Snead ( 1974 -- 1975 ) Jim Plunkett ( 1976 -- 1977 ) Scott Bull ( 1976, 1978 ) Steve DeBerg ( 1978 -- 1980 ) Joe Montana ( 1979 -- 1990 ) Matt Cavanaugh ( 1984 -- 1985 ) Jeff Kemp ( 1986 ) Mike Moroski ( 1986 ) Steve Young ( 1987 -- 1999 ) Bob Gagliano ( 1987 ) Steve Bono ( 1991 ) Elvis Grbac ( 1995 -- 1996 ) Jim Druckenmiller ( 1997 ) Ty Detmer ( 1998 ) Steve Stenstrom ( 1999 ) Jeff Garcia ( 1999 -- 2003 ) Tim Rattay ( 2003 -- 2005 ) Ken Dorsey ( 2004 -- 2005 ) Alex Smith ( 2005 -- 2007, 2009 -- 2012 ) Cody Pickett ( 2005 ) Trent Dilfer ( 2007 ) Shaun Hill ( 2007 -- 2009 ) Chris Weinke ( 2007 ) J.T. O'Sullivan ( 2008 ) Troy Smith ( 2010 ) Colin Kaepernick ( 2012 -- 2016 ) Blaine Gabbert ( 2015 -- 2016 ) Brian Hoyer ( 2017 -- present ) VIAF : 305130142 LCCN : no2013078799 ISNI : 0000 0004 1723 6714 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Colin_Kaepernick&oldid=804777588 '' Categories : 1987 births Living people 21st - century African - American activists Activists from California African - American Christians African - American players of American football African - American sportsmen American adoptees American football quarterbacks Nevada Wolf Pack football players People from Turlock, California Players of American football from California Players of American football from Wisconsin San Francisco 49ers players Sportspeople from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin Sportspeople from Milwaukee Hidden categories : Webarchive template wayback links CS1 maint : Multiple names : authors list Use mdy dates from September 2016 NFL Free agent currentteam parameter articles Infobox NFL biography articles missing alt text All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from September 2017 Articles with unsourced statements from February 2013 Articles with unsourced statements from August 2016 Wikipedia indefinitely semi-protected biographies of living people Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with ISNI identifiers Talk View source Contents About Wikipedia Čeština Dansk Deutsch Eesti Español فارسی Français 한국어 Italiano עברית Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Occitan Português Русский Shqip Simple English Suomi Svenska Edit links This page was last edited on 11 October 2017, at 02 : 29. 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Question: who is the starting quarter back for the 49ers
Answer: Colin Rand Kaepernick