Kaepernick Releases Memoir Before 10-Year Protest Mark, Rejects Trump Meeting
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Sep 26
Kaepernick Releases Memoir Before 10-Year Protest Mark, Rejects Trump Meeting
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Sep 26
Summary
Colin Kaepernick said he turned down a 2017 or 2018 request to meet Donald Trump, calling it “a very easy no” because he saw no genuine interest in equity.
The 38-year-old former NFL quarterback is speaking out now through a new memoir, The Perilous Fight, saying the timing fits both the country’s direction and the approaching 10-year anniversary of his 2016 anthem protest.
Kaepernick said he still trains daily at 4:30 a.m. and remains ready for an NFL return, even though he has not played top-flight football in nearly 10 years.
He again cast his exile from the league as retaliation for protesting police killings of Black people, pointing to his 2017 collusion suit against the NFL, which was settled in 2019 for an undisclosed sum.
The interview frames his protest as part of a broader movement he still backs: he said he would “absolutely” kneel again, while continuing activism through Know Your Rights Camp and more than $1 million in community donations.
After a decade away and refusing to watch games, what truly drives Colin Kaepernick's punishing daily NFL training regimen?
If the idea to kneel came from a teammate, why did Kaepernick bear the ultimate professional cost alone for ten years?
Ten Years Since the Protest: Colin Kaepernick’s Memoir, NFL Blackballing, and the Evolution of Athlete Activism
Overview
Colin Kaepernick’s 2026 memoir, released a decade after his first protest, reignited national debate on race, patriotism, and free speech in sports. The book reveals deep divisions among NFL players, with group chat tensions and direct messages from peers like Richard Sherman highlighting internal conflict. After his protest, Kaepernick was exiled from the NFL, leading to a collusion grievance and failed comeback attempts. His activism grew from personal struggles with identity as a biracial adoptee to bold advocacy for police abolition, supported by strategic brand partnerships. In 2026, he was honored for his courage and lasting impact on social justice.