For a couple of seasons, Colin Kaepernick was the face of the 49ers.
Now, nearly two years after he played his last NFL game, Nike has made him one of the faces of their 30th anniversary 'Just do it' campaign.
Kaepernick made the announcement on Twitter with this tweet:
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According to ESPN's Darren Rovell, Nike has continued to pay Kaepernick as part of his endorsement deal despite the fact that he hasn't played since the 2016 season.
Nike's vice president of brand for North America, Gino Fisanotti, issued a statement to ESPN regarding Kaepernick's involvement in the campaign.
"We believe Colin is one of the most inspirational athletes of this generation, who has leveraged the power of sport to help move the world forward."
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Kaepernick gained national attention when he started taking a knee during the national anthem to bring attention to the social injustices plaguing the country. The 49ers released Kaepernick following the 2016 season and no team has signed him since.
Kaepernick is suing NFL owners for conspiring to keep him out of the league and last Thursday, Mediator Stephen Burbank announced that the former 49er quarterback's complaint against the 32 owners can go forward to trial. Nike is the NFL's official supplier of uniforms and sideline apparel through 2028, after the two agreed to a new deal in March.
According to ESPN, these athletes will join Kaepernick as part of the campaign: Odell Beckham Jr., Shaquem Griffin, Lacey Baker, Serena Williams and LeBron James.
