Former National Football League quarterback Colin Kaepernick is slated to receive the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the Muhammad Ali Center later this year. The announcement has reignited discussions surrounding Kaepernick's professional career and his role as a social justice advocate.
Former NFL Quarterback to Receive Prestigious Humanitarian Award
The Muhammad Ali Center informed Reuters that its selection of Kaepernick was based on his sustained efforts “against racial injustice” and his philanthropic work supporting underserved communities. These initiatives notably include his Know Your Rights Camp and other charitable endeavors.
Lonnie Ali, the late Muhammad Ali’s wife and a co-founder of the center, emphasized Kaepernick’s commitment to his cause. She stated,
Colin has used his platform to advocate for equality, human dignity, and social change, even when doing so came at significant personal and professional cost.
Comparing Legacies: Kaepernick and Ali
Despite the center's praise, some commentators argue that Kaepernick's contributions do not parallel the profound sacrifices made by Muhammad Ali, whose name the award bears. Ali famously risked his personal liberty and forfeited the prime years of his boxing career by refusing induction into the military during the Vietnam War. This defiance led to him being stripped of his heavyweight title, banned from professional boxing for over three years, and convicted of draft evasion. Ali's actions transformed him into a symbolic figure of resistance, widely considered a martyr who paid a substantial personal price for his convictions.
In contrast, critics suggest that Kaepernick did not face a comparable level of sacrifice or achieve a similar status. The prevalent narrative that Kaepernick jeopardized a flourishing NFL career to champion marginalized communities is often contested. Records indicate that he had already been benched in favor of Blaine Gabbert prior to his protests. During his final two seasons in the league, his QBRs were recorded at 43.7 and 49.2, respectively, suggesting a decline in performance that rendered him, in the view of some, unplayable.
Critiques of Kaepernick's Professional Trajectory and Activism
Unlike Ali, who stood largely alone in his era's societal and political landscape, Kaepernick's national anthem protests garnered significant support from sports media and popular culture. He also became the central figure in a major advertising campaign for Nike. Some analysts contend that kneeling during the anthem ultimately proved financially beneficial for an athlete who, based on his performance at the time, might otherwise have been offered contracts at the league minimum.
While Kaepernick and his supporters maintain that NFL teams effectively blackballed him, an alternative perspective suggests that teams were simply unwilling to sign a backup-level quarterback who was also perceived as the center of a divisive political controversy. It is noted that many other players who participated in anthem protests continued their careers because their on-field performance justified their roster spots, a factor that critics argue was not applicable to Kaepernick.
Furthermore, Kaepernick's public statements have drawn criticism, including his characterization of July 4 as a "racist celebration" and his comparisons of the NFL's treatment of players to slavery and plantation systems. These remarks contributed to his image as an inflammatory public figure for some.
Questions Raised About the Awarding Institution
Critics have voiced disappointment in the Muhammad Ali Center's decision, suggesting it diminishes the prestige of an award associated with such a legendary figure. Concerns about the center's discernment have been raised previously; for instance, in 2022, it presented its Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. Anthony Fauci, a choice that has since been viewed by some as poorly considered. Kaepernick is expected to leverage the upcoming award to promote his forthcoming book, titled "The Perilous Fight."