Nike revealed that it has elected former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick as the face of its “Just Do It” campaign, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary.
ESPN’s Darren Rovell reported the choice of Kaepernick, who became a household name for starting the movement to kneel during the United States national anthem to protest racial injustice in August 2016. While the professional athlete faced much criticism for his move, many others viewed Kaepernick as a hero for standing up for social issues even if it meant the NFL would freeze him out.
Nike’s initial image shows a close up of Kaepernick’s face with the caption: “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.”
It was later reported by Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports that Kaepernick and Nike agreed to a new contract despite the fact that Kaepernick has been with the company since 2011. As part of the new contract, Kaepernick will have his own branded line including shoes, shirts, jerseys and more.
In other interesting news, the NFL season will start Thursday, and Kaepernick remains unsigned. Kaepernick opted out of his contract with the Niners in March 2017 and hasn’t been able to find a new team since. Kaepernick postponed an April visit with the Seattle Seahawks after he did not assure the franchise he’d stand for the anthem if signed.
By: Maytinee Kramer
