Colin Kaepernick’s 2016 Anthem Protest and Its Ripple Through U.S. Sports

Colin Kaepernick’s protest began on August 14, when he remained seated during the national anthem before the San Francisco 49ers’ preseason game against the Houston Texans. After two quiet preseason appearances, the act drew nationwide attention on August 26, and on September 1, 2016 he knelt before a preseason matchup with the San Diego Chargers. He continued the silent boycott throughout the regular season, including a game on December 18, 2016 against the Atlanta Falcons, where he watched from the sidelines.

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The protest unfolded amid heightened racial tension. The Black Lives Matter movement had surged after the 2013 acquittal of George Zimmerman. In July 9, 2016, the killing of Alton Sterling in Baton Roule prompted Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton to ask, “Would this have happened if the driver and passenger were white?” A day later, Philando Castile was shot, and his acquittal on June 16, 2017 spurred further unrest. Kaepernick repeatedly described these killings as modern-day lynchings on social media, calling the climate “clear as day” that African Americans were “under attack.”

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Kaepernick’s stance quickly inspired teammates and athletes in other leagues. During the 2017 WNBA Finals, the Los Angeles Sparks stayed in the locker room for the anthem while the Minnesota Lynx linked arms on the court. Diana Taurasi, former Phoenix Mercury star, said, “We need to make sure that Colin knows that we have his back.” The movement spread to baseball (Bruce Maxwell), hockey (J.T. Brown), women’s soccer, and the NBA, where several teams locked arms during the anthem in the 2016-17 season. Megan Rapinoe was scheduled to kneel on September 18, 2016 before a U.S. match in Atlanta.

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Kaepernick became a free agent in 2017 and was never signed by another NFL team, effectively ending his playing career. Renée Graham, associate editor at *The Boston Globe*, noted, “I haven’t watched a snap since.” Despite the backlash, the image of Kaepernick kneeling alongside teammate Eric Reid remains a defining moment, and the protest is credited with ushering a new era of athlete activism that intensified after the 2020 murder of George Floyd.

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• “Would this have happened if the driver and passenger were white?” — Mark Dayton, prompted then-minnesota governor

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• “We need to make sure that Colin knows that we have his back,” — Diana Taurasi, former Phoenix Mercury star and three-time WNBA champion

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• “I haven’t watched a snap since,” — Graham. Despite

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