Former San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick has said he is open to running for political office. Speaking on stage, he revealed that people have asked him about launching a campaign and stated that he will not rule out any viable path that allows him to create social impact.

In an event at the Perelman Performing Arts Center in New York as part of The Atlantic Festival, journalist Jemele Hill asked Kaepernick if he would ever consider running for political office. She also added, “Have you been approached, or…”

To which Colin Kaepernick answered, as can be seen in a clip on Instagram posted on the @spoliticspod channel, “I have. I’ve had more and more people ask me about it. I don’t know if they’re being kind or if they actually want me to. But just looking at areas to have impact, I don’t leave anything off the table. All viable paths that we can have impact, I’m open to looking at and considering. But if I did it, I would want to make sure that I am doing it in a way that I think I would have the biggest impact, and a way that it would ultimately affect people’s lives in a meaningful way.”

Kaepernick explained that his consideration of public office depends entirely on whether it serves as the most effective path to make a meaningful difference in people’s daily lives. He emphasized that he evaluates potential future steps strictly through the lens of community impact.

Colin Kaepernick played his last regular-season game for San Francisco on January 1, 2017. He opted out of his contract in March 2017 and has not signed with another NFL team. In October 2017, he filed a collusion grievance against NFL team owners under the CBA (collective bargaining agreement), which was resolved through a confidential settlement in February 2019.

Away from sports, Kaepernick has focused on civil rights advocacy and publishing. His memoir, ‘The Perilous Fight’, topped ‘The New York Times Best Sellers list’ in September 2026. His non-profit organization, ‘Know Your Rights Camp’, organizes youth education programs across the country and operates an ‘Autopsy Initiative’ that funds free independent autopsies for families of victims of police-related deaths.

This openness from Colin’s side is a big change from his stance a decade ago in November 2016, when he defended his decision not to vote.

“I said from the beginning I was against oppression, I was against the system of oppression. I’m not going to show support for that system. And to me, the oppressor isn’t going to allow you to vote your way out of your oppression,” Colin Kaepernick had stated.

Over time, Kaepernick adjusted his position on electoral participation and registered to vote. In an interview discussing his memoir in September 2026, he described his 2016 boycott of voting as irresponsible. He pointed directly to appointments on the federal bench and the Supreme Court as evidence of how significantly election outcomes shape the legal system.

Kaepernick explained that while his initial intentions in 2016 were focused on resisting injustice, he has re-evaluated the practical strategy behind civic participation. He now treats potential public office alongside grassroots community organizing as another viable path to pursue measurable progress.

Throughout American history, a few prominent athletes have transitioned into politics, including former U.S. Senator Bill Bradley and former U.S. Representative Jack Kemp.

Unlike those predecessors who entered politics through traditional party routes, Kaepernick’s sociopolitical and public image is rooted directly in civil rights protest and community organizing.

Running for office would pose some unique challenges and would test how well a vocal activist can create wide-ranging coalitions.