A Vermont man nominated former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick for the Pro Football Hall of Fame for his efforts to raise awareness for racial inequality and police brutality.
The man actually discovered that anyone can make a nomination, so Bob Birkett sent a letter to the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio asking that Kaepernick be inducted under the contributor category, according to Nancy Armour of USA Today.
“It is my pleasure, privilege, and responsibility as a supporter of racial equality to nominate Mr. Colin Kaepernick,” Birkett wrote in his letter. “Mr. Kaepernick has shown exceptional courage in highlighting the damaging effects of racial injustice on Black people and on our society as a whole. His respectful kneeling posture has created a powerful symbol for those who are oppressed by our society.”
The contributor category is for individuals who have made “outstanding career contributions to pro football in capacities other than playing or coaching.” It has only been around since 2014.
“He’s gotten a raw deal for so long,” Birkett said of Kaepernick. “It’s a little bit like (Muhammad Ali refusing to serve in Vietnam). The initial reaction was, ‘Holy cow what a horrible thing.’ Then a little while later, it’s like, ‘Man, that guy had some guts.’
“You think, ‘What can I do?’ I can’t force an owner to hire the guy. But darn it! I can put him in the Hall of Fame.”
The earliest Kaepernick’s nomination could be considered is 2022.
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Colin Kaepernick played six seasons for the San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League. After controversy over his decision to kneel during the national anthem, Kaepernick opted out of his contract and no team has signed him since.
