On Aug. 26, 2016, a quiet moment before an NFL preseason game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Green Bay Packers set off a movement that transcended sports. Colin Kaepernick, the 49ers' starting quarterback,  remained seated on the bench during the playing of the national anthem. While the act was initially missed by the cameras and the crowd, it became the focal point of a national conversation on race, policing, and the rights of athletes after a reporter asked Kaepernick to explain his reasoning following the game.

Kaepernick, who was born in Wisconsin and raised in California, had already built a reputation as one of the NFL's most dynamic talents. After being drafted in 2011, he led the 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance in 2012, showcasing a dual-threat ability that made him a cornerstone of the franchise. By the summer of 2016, his focus shifted toward the systemic issues affecting Black Americans. Following the high-profile police killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, Kaepernick used his position to address police brutality and racial oppression, stating that he would not stand for a flag that he believed represented a country that oppresses people of color.

The protest eventually evolved after Kaepernick consulted with former NFL player and Green Beret Nate Boyer. In an effort to maintain respect for the military while still highlighting social issues, Kaepernick began kneeling rather than sitting. On Sept. 1, 2016, he was joined by teammate Eric Reid in taking a knee, a gesture that was soon adopted by athletes across various sports worldwide. While the 49ers and President Barack Obama defended his constitutional right to protest, the move was met with significant pushback. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell voiced his disagreement, and then-candidate Donald Trump publicly suggested that players who refused to stand should find another country.

The 2016 season was defined by this ongoing polarization. Despite a productive year where he threw for 16 touchdowns and only four interceptions, Kaepernick opted out of his contract at the season's end and found himself unable to secure a spot on another roster. While several other free-agent quarterbacks with less experience were signed, Kaepernick remained a free agent, leading to widespread allegations that the league’s owners had blackballed him. This ultimately led to a grievance filed against the NFL, which was settled in 2019.

Even though his time in the NFL ended after that 2016-2017 season, the weight of his actions continued to grow. Following the 2020 murder of George Floyd, the act of kneeling became a global symbol of solidarity against racial injustice. Today, Kaepernick is viewed by many as a figure who chose to sacrifice his professional career to keep a spotlight on civil rights and police reform, making him one of the most influential athletes of the 21st century.