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ANN ARBOR, MI – APRIL 02: Colin Kaepernick participates in a throwing exhibition during half time of the Michigan spring football game at Michigan Stadium on April 2, 2022 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Jaime Crawford/Getty Images)
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ANN ARBOR, MI – APRIL 02: Colin Kaepernick participates in a throwing exhibition during half time of the Michigan spring football game at Michigan Stadium on April 2, 2022 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Jaime Crawford/Getty Images)
Colin Kaepernick signed an exclusive shoe deal with Nike in 2019. It became a talking point in the NFL world following Kaepernick’s decision to protest. First displayed in 2016, his protest by taking a knee was against the systemic injustices. The shoes got sold out on the first day of release, as per Nike.
The Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis was amazed and felt it was a good deal for Nike to rope in Kaepernick. Conversely, Colin previously criticized the shoe scheduled for a July 4th release. He mentioned that the design of the Betty Ross American Flag shoe was offensive.
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Further, Davis felt that Nike signing Colin Kaepernick for the new ‘Just Do It’ campaign was a good move. However, multiple critical comments surfaced after it, including a #boycottnike campaign on Twitter. In addition, the company’s stock took a 3% hit. After that, however, it jumped back to its usual trading price.
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SANTA CLARA, CA – AUGUST 26: Quarterback Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on from the sidelines against the Green Bay Packers in the first half of their preseason football game at Levi’s Stadium on August 26, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
After the release of the commercial for the ‘True to 7’ shoe, online sales kept increasing. Praise for the ad led Nike to win an Emmy for outstanding commercial, its first in 17 years.
What are the relations between Mark Davis and Colin Kaepernick?
The Raiders owner is one of the few people adamant about giving the former 49ers‘ QB another shot. After exiting the league, no team showed interest in signing Kap as a starting QB. However, Davis believes in him and says, “I believe in Colin Kaepernick. He deserves every chance in the world to become a quarterback in the National Football League.”
He added, “I still stand by it. If our coaches and general manager want to bring him in, I would welcome him with open arms.” Mark also invited Colin for a workout session with the Raiders in late May, showing his support for the 34-year-old.
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 28: Colin Kaepernick arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s “Colin In Black And White” at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on October 28, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/WireImage,)
The True-to-7 shoes became a talking point for Nike and Kaepernick, but will it redeem him? Will he get another chance in the NFL? Mark Davis indeed thinks so.
Watch This Story: Colin Kaepernick donated his sneaker collection in epic show of kindness to help the homeless
Written by
Edited by
Deepika Bhaduri