How Long Did Colin Kaepernick Play In The NFL?
How long did Colin Kaepernick play in the NFL? Get the answer here and learn about his career.
Colin Kaepernick’s NFL Career
Colin Kaepernick played six seasons in the NFL from 2011 to 2016. He was drafted in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. He became the starting quarterback for the 49ers midway through the 2012 season and helped the team reach the Super Bowl that year. He remained the starter for the 49ers for the next two seasons before he was released in 2016.
Drafted by the San Francisco 49ers
In the 2011 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers selected Colin Kaepernick in the second round with the 36th overall pick. As a rookie, he did not play and was the third-string quarterback behind Alex Smith and David Carr.
Kaepernick saw his first action in 2012 when he took over for an injured Smith against the Rams. He started the final seven games of the season, completing 54.3 percent of his passes for 1,814 yards with 10 touchdowns and three interceptions. He also ran for 171 yards and two touchdowns. The 49ers went 5-2 in his starts and earned a spot in the NFC playoffs as a wild card team.
Kaepernick took over as the starting quarterback in 2013 and led the 49ers to their third straight NFC Championship game appearance. In 2014, he helped San Francisco to an 8-8 record and their fourth straight NFC playoff berth. After struggling through much of the 2015 season, Kaepernick was replaced by Blaine Gabbert midway through the year.
He became a free agent after the 2016 season and was not signed by any team. Kaepernick has not played in an NFL game since that 2016 season.
Named the starting quarterback
In 2012, Kaepernick was named the starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, taking over from Alex Smith who had been injured. He helped lead the team to the Super Bowl that year, where they narrowly lost to the Baltimore Ravens.
Kaepernick continued to be the starting quarterback for the 49ers over the next few years, but his performance became increasingly erratic. In 2016, he lost his starting spot to Blaine Gabbert and was eventually released by the team.
He has not played in the NFL since then, although he has filed a grievance against the league alleging that they colluded to keep him out of the league.
Leads the 49ers to the NFC Championship game
In his second season as the starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, Colin Kaepernick led the team to the NFC Championship game. After losing to the Seattle Seahawks in that game, Kaepernick and the 49ers failed to make it back to the NFC Championship game during his time with the team. He was released by the 49ers in 2016 and has not been signed by another NFL team since then.
Named to the Pro Bowl
After having a breakout season in 2012, Kaepernick was named to the 2013 Pro Bowl. He is one of only four quarterbacks to have ever thrown for 300 yards and rushed for over 100 yards in a game, and the only quarterback to do so twice.
Signs a contract extension
On June 4, 2014, the 49ers signed Kaepernick to a six-year contract extension through the 2020 season. The extension was worth up to $126 million, making him, at the time, the highest paid player in NFL history on a per-year basis.
Colin Kaepernick’s Post-NFL Career
Since he left the NFL in 2016, Colin Kaepernick has been a free agent. He has had multiple tryouts with NFL teams, but has not been signed to a team. In the meantime, he has been keeping busy with other projects.
Releases a statement
On October 10, 2019, Nike released an ad featuring Colin Kaepernick with the tagline “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.” The ad led to a divided reaction on social media, with some supporting Nike and others burning Nike products in protest.
In the days following the ad’s release, multiple NFL players voiced their support for Kaepernick. Los Angeles Rams linebackerConor McGovern said, “I think it’s dope … He’s using his platform for what he believes in … I’m all for it.” Carolina Panthers wide receiver Torrey Smith tweeted that he was “more than proud” of Nike and Kaepernick. Miami Dolphins wide receiver Kenny Stills praised both Nike and Kaepernick for their work on social justice issues.
Filed a grievance against the NFL
In 2017, Colin Kaepernick- who was then a quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers- decided to sit during the National Anthem as a form of protest against police brutality and racial injustice in America. His peaceful protest sparked a nationwide conversation about these important issues, but it also resulted in him becoming a free agent- meaning that no team in the NFL wanted to sign him. In 2019, he filed a grievance against the NFL, alleging that they had colluded to keep him out of the league because of his political beliefs. The case is still ongoing.
Settles with the NFL
In February 2019, Kaepernick reached a settlement with the National Football League (NFL) after filing a grievances alleging that the league and its teams colluded to keep him out of the league. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed, but it was reported to be worth less than $10 million.
Launches a website
Colin Kaepernick, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback who sparked a national conversation about race and politics by kneeling during the national anthem, has launched a new website that showcases his donations to organizations working for social justice.
The website, dubbed “My Cause, My Cleats,” features a list of charities that Kaepernick has supported over the past year, as well as a section detailing his work with youth in underserved communities.
“I created this platform to inspire others to get involved and be the change they want to see in the world,” Kaepernick says on the website.
Through his regular donations and fundraising efforts, Kaepernick has given more than $1 million to various charities and causes over the past year. His latest donation is $10,000 to DREAM, an organization that provides educational opportunities to young people in underserved communities.
