Colin Kaepernick is still standing, or rather, kneeling, for what he believes in.
The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback, who sparked national debate in 2016 by taking a knee during the national anthem to protest police brutality, recently spoke with ABC News and made it clear: he has no regrets.
“Thinking about whether or not it’s worth it: if even one life was saved, one life was advanced, it’ll be worth it every day of the week,” Kaepernick said, reflecting on the cultural firestorm his protest ignited. “I think that’s incredibly important as we think about our future.”
Now 38, Kaepernick is channeling his commitment to justice and education into a new venture, one that aims to spark minds instead of controversy. Through a partnership between his AI-powered literacy platform Lumi and Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) in Maryland, the former NFL star is helping students unlock their storytelling abilities with the help of artificial intelligence.
The program, which brings reading and writing to life by allowing students to engage with AI-generated characters, is a fresh step in Kaepernick’s journey from quarterback to changemaker.
“He stood by what was right on that field, and now he’s standing by what’s right in this community, and that’s ensuring every child has the ability to learn,” said one PGCPS leader during the pilot program’s unveiling.
PGCPS Interim Superintendent Dr. Shawn Joseph called Kaepernick’s work a mix of “courage, conviction, and creativity,” adding that his story “continues to push this country to imagine a world rooted in justice.”
U.S. Representative Glenn Ivey, whose district includes Prince George’s County, praised the former quarterback’s long-term impact. “The ripple effects of that are still going,” Ivey said. “You empowered athletes, not just in the NFL but across the board, to use their voices and their power in their communities.”
Despite being absent from the NFL for nearly a decade, Kaepernick’s influence remains undeniable.
“We still train every morning,” he said. “Up early before we start getting to business… We always gonna be ready.”
From taking a knee to launching a tech-driven literacy platform, Colin Kaepernick’s mission has always been bigger than football. And for him, the work is far from over.
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