Colin Kaepernick, who is planning on opting out of his contract with the 49ers next week, will no longer kneel during the National Anthem before games next season, sources have told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Kaepernick’s decision not to stand during the National Anthem to protest social inequality became a national story that lasted for months last season, and became a divisive talking point amongst NFL fans. According to sources speaking with Schefter, Kapernick no longer wants his form of protest to distract from progress he believes has been made since last August.
Kaepernick believes the coverage and subsequent discussion of his protest, along with support from professional and amateur athletes throughout the country, “affirmed the message he was trying to deliver,” according to Schefter.
Kaepernick initially began his protest by siting during the National Anthem, but modified his demonstration by keeling during the song for the final preseason game and and entire regular season, after having a conversation with former NFL long-snapper and Green Beret Nate Boyer.
The anthem protest may have been what grabbed the headlines, but Kaepernick did more than just create awareness, donating $1 million through his foundation to community organizations helping underprivileged people, and making good on a promise to continue with $100,000 donations every month.
The six-year veteran quarterback is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent for the first time, after spending his entire career in San Francisco. Though unlikely, both new general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan have not ruled out the possibility of bringing Kap back next season. The parties met for the first time at the 49ers’ facility in Santa Clara last week and apparently had a positive conversation.