Steph Curry Voices Support For Colin Kaepernick, Says QB Should Be Signed

Colin Kaepernick has received both sharp criticism and praise from notable sports figures and fans alike since protesting the national anthem more than a year ago, and now the free agent quarterback has received another prominent supporter: Stephen Curry.

Steph Curry Supports Colin Kaepernick

The Golden State Warriors guard and two-time MVP — whose team won the NBA championship this year — expressed his support for the former San Francisco 49ers star on his Instagram page on Sunday. Curry posted a photo of Kaepernick placing a ball for a punt at the 49ers’ Levi Stadium and added the hashtag #freekaep, as The Athletic’s Anthony Slater shared:

No NFL team has stepped up to sign Kaepernick ever since he sat and then knelt to protest the anthem during a preseason game in August 2016 to make a statement about racial injustice and police brutality. Most franchises have said the QB is too controversial, although Curry disagrees and believes he absolutely deserves to play football.

Curry shared his thoughts on Kaepernick with the Charlotte Observer moments before the 49ers’ 23-3 loss to the Carolina Panthers in Santa Clara, California on Sunday.

“He definitely should be in the NFL. If you’ve been around the NFL, the top 64 quarterbacks, and he’s not one of them? Then I don’t know what game I’m watching,” said Curry, a Panthers fan who was wearing the team’s jersey on Sunday. “Obviously his stance and his peaceful protest when he was playing here kind of shook up the world, and I think for the better. But hopefully he gets back in the league – because he deserves to be here and he deserves an opportunity to play. He’s in his prime and can make a team better.”

Kaepernick’s replacement with the Niners, Brian Hoyer, threw for just 105 yards and an interception as San Francisco trailed Carolina 23-0 late in the third quarter on Sunday.

Late last month, hundreds of fans gathered outside the NFL headquarters’ offices to protest teams’ refusal to let Kaepernick rejoin the league. Kaepernick has stated that he would stand for the anthem if signed by a team this season.

SALT LAKE CITY, UT – MAY 8: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors directs a play in the first half against the Utah Jazz in Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Vivint Smart Home Arena on May 8, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah.