Colin Kaepernick

Colin Kaepernick is a former American football player who played quarter-back in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2016. Although he has many sporting accolades to his name, Kaepernick made international headlines when, throughout the 2016 season, he ‘took the knee’ during the national anthem in a protest against racism and police brutality. He was subsequently ‘released’ from the 49ers and struggled to find another team.

Since leaving American football. Kaepernick has dedicated more time to social justice activism and has been outspoken about civil rights issues.

Why Colin Kaepernick is vegan

Colin Kaepernick is vegan for health and ethical reasons.

Kaepernick became vegan with his then-girlfriend (now wife) Nessa DIab at the end of 2015 to help recover from a series of injuries and due to growing ethical concerns.¹NBC Sports. 2016. Kaepernick Weight-loss Not Due to Vegan Diet. Available: https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/49ers/kaepernick-weight-loss-not-due-vegan-diet [Accessed 7 May 2021].

In 2017, Colin Kaepernick released a dairy-free ice cream with Ben & Jerry’s called Change the Whirled.²Ben & Jerry’s. 2026. Colin Kaepernick’s Change the Whirled™. Available: https://www.benjerry.com/flavors/change-the-whirled-non-dairy [Accessed 14 September 2026] His portion of the profits are donated to Know Your Rights Camp – a non-profit founded by Kaepernick to “advance the liberation of Black and Brown communities through education, self-empowerment, mass-mobilization and the creation of new systems that elevate the next generation of change leaders.”