Colin Kaepernick Named GQ’s 2017 Citizen Of The Year

Colin Kaepernick has just received a big honor from GQ.

Colin Kaepernick GQ Citizen of the Year News

The magazine named the free-agent quarterback its 2017 Citizen of the Year on Monday. Kaepernick — who has remained jobless since the San Francisco 49ers released him in March following his national anthem protest — was featured as one of GQ’s Men of the Year alongside comedian Stephen Colbert and Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant. Actress Gal Gadot — the star of summer blockbuster Wonder Woman — was named Woman of the Year.

Kaepernick agreed to collaborate with GQ on a special project for its December Man of the Year issue in the hopes that he can “reclaim the narrative of his protest.”

Several of the quarterback’s friends — including rapper J.Cole, director Ava DuVernay, activist Harry Belafonte, and Women’s March co-organizer Linda Sarsour — all offered their own take as to what Kaepernick is truly like.

As part of the project, Kaepernick was photographed with his iconic afro in Harlem by Martin Schoeller. The picture was intended to evoke the spirit of Muhammad Ali’s anti-Vietnam War protests in the neighborhood during the late 1960s, per GQ’s website. Kaepernick tweeted to say he was honored to receive the title from GQ.

Kapernick recently filed a collusion grievance against NFL owners, although it was revealed shortly afterwards that he’d been invited to meet one-on-one with commissioner Roger Goodell. 

“Had (Kaepernick not taken a knee), this guy would be making millions of dollars right now. Period, point blank,” J. Cole said in the article of Kaepernick’s protest, which was against racial oppression. “And more important than the money, he was living his dream. He sacrificed his dream.”

BUFFALO, NY – OCTOBER 16: Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to throw against the Buffalo Bills during the first half at New Era Field on October 16, 2016 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)