

Controversial former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, currently embroiled in legal proceedings against the league over alleged collusion by owners, has been chosen as the new face of Nike.
Kaepernick tweeted Monday afternoon he was picked to helm the esteemed shoe brand’s 30th anniversary “Just Do It” campaign — a return to the slogan that made the company famous.
The quarterback, who knows a thing or two about the sentiment, tweeted a photo of himself with the quote, “Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything,” with the hashtag “JustDoIt.
The 30-year-old started just 11 games in 2016 — one year after starting only eight in 2015 — after leading the 49ers to the Super Bowl in February 2013 and signed a $126 million contract in 2014. He opted out of his contract in 2017, though general manager John Lynch told Pro Football Talk he would’ve been released if he’d opted in.

In the fall, despite Kaepernick not being signed by any teams, President Donald Trump reignited the fury over his protests during a rally for Alabama Sen. Luther Strange.
Trump told the crowd in September 2017, “Wouldn’t you love to see one of the NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say ‘Get that son of a b—- off the field right now?’
“You know, some owner … is going to say, ‘That guy who disrespects our flag, he’s fired,'” Trump said.
Though Trump didn’t mention Kaepernick by name — and he’s never mentioned Kaepernick on his Twitter account — he’s continued to be the focal point of criticism, mostly by conservatives.

Kaepernick, who is still unsigned, filed a grievance against the NFL saying owners colluded to keep him out of the league. Reid, who hasn’t been signed this offseason, also joined the grievance. An arbiter denied the NFL’s motion to dismiss the case last week, which paves the way for it to go to trial, Kaepernick’s lawyer Mark Geragos tweeted.
Tennis superstar Serena Williams, a fellow Nike athlete, offered support for her new stable mate after a match at the U.S. Open last week, and echoed those sentiments in a tweet Monday evening.
He had nothing but praise for Kaepernick, though, and advocated him being added to an NFL roster.