Many know Colin Kaepernick as a former San Francisco 49ers quarterback. But for Teresa and Rick Kaepernick, he is still that same boy who once used to struggle to settle in with his identity. Colin has come a long way in his career, first from a star pro football player to an activist and now a New York Times bestseller.

The life of Colin Kaepernick was not that smooth after all. He was born on November 3, 1987, to Heidi Russo, who was 19 years old at that time. Following his birth, his biological mother Russo decided to put him up for adoption when he was merely five weeks old. His biological father’s identity remains unknown to this day.

Kaepernick in his early days

A Wisconsin-based white couple Rick and Teresa Kaepernick adopted Colin. The couple had two biological kids: a son named Kyle, and a daughter named Devon. During an interview with VH1 in 2019, Kaepernick got candid about his relationship growing up with white parents.

“You have a family that you love, but you know you don’t look like. And at a young age, I understood that I was different; I didn’t understand what that meant. So, as I got older it was something that developed. As my identity developed and my place in society and my understanding of that developed, my parents and my family had develop as well,” he said.

Also Read: Colin Kaepernick, With $20 Million Net Worth, Bid San Francisco Adieu After Selling His Bay Area Mansion for a Ridiculous Amount in 2017

He continued, “But it’s been one that [they’ve] worked through, and [they’ve] always been really loving in the process… I wouldn’t do it with anybody else.”

Parents of Colin Kaepernick

Colin’s mother Teresa Kaepernick, worked as a nurse during Colin’s childhood days. She has persistently stood up alongside Colin since the beginning. And her support has made him comfortable with who he is. His father Rick Kaepernick used to work as the operations manager for the Hilmar Cheese Company. And together with his wife, they encouraged Colin to try different sports and pursue his dreams as a pro footballer.

In his Netflix Docuseries Colin in Black & White, the former Niner described how he sometimes felt uncomfortable discussing his identity with his parents. He believed that he needed a mentor to help him get comfortable and navigate. Yet still, the love and support Colin received from his family were unparalleled.

Watch This Story: Shannon Sharpe Tears Down Antonio Brown For Hating On Colin Kaepernick