Colin Kaepernick named GQ magazine's citizen of the year

Colin Kaepernick, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback, is pictured on the cover of an upcoming issue of GQ magazine after the magazine named him one of its 2017 Men of the Year with the caption “Citizen of the Year.”



Late-night host Stephen Colbert, actress Gal Gadot and Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant are also recognized in the magazine.

In Kaepernick’s cover story, “Colin Kaepernick Will Not Be Silenced,” GQ editors write that the free-agent quarterback wanted to contribute to the article and helped connect the magazine with 10 of his friends and confidants. He also posed for a series of photos in Harlem. But kapernick declined to provide quotes for the story itself, citing a desire to remain silent.

Kaepernick who acted like an activist garnered national attention last year by taking a knee during the national anthem.

Although some members of the public regarded his act as a form of disrespect to the nation’s flag, Kapernick knelt during the anthem to protest against racial inequality and police brutality.

He became a free agent in March and has remained unsigned this season, which prompted him to recently file a collusion grievance against NFL owners.

As other players have continued the national anthem demonstrations that Kaepernick started, the quarterback himself has largely remained quiet. He declined to be quoted for GQ’s story, which instead includes interviews with singer Harry Belafonte, rapper J. Cole, and former teammate Eric Reid, among others.

By taking a knee, Kaepernick sacrificed not only the millions of naira he was making or would have been making but his dream and career.