Colin Kaepernick has reconsidered his 2016 voting stance as “irresponsible,” according to his new memoir “The Perilous Fight,” which releases September 15, 2026. In his book, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback and activist writes that he now recognizes the consequences of his decision not to participate in that year’s presidential election and has since voted for Democratic candidates in 2020 and 2024.
Ten years ago, Kaepernick created a firestorm when he announced he would not vote in the 2016 race between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. “You know, I think it would be hypocritical of me to vote,” he told reporters in November 2016. “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.”
At the time, Kaepernick was critical of both major candidates, describing them as “proven liars.” He decried Trump as “openly racist” and criticized Clinton for her use of the term “super predators” when defending the 1994 crime bill signed by her husband, President Bill Clinton. Kaepernick had also never registered to vote, according to reporting at the time.
In an interview with NBC News published today, Kaepernick discussed his political evolution over the past decade. “The realization coming out of the 2016 election is how significant the implications can be of not voting, even if you don’t fully think this candidate represents you, and I’ve seen that,” he said. “We’ve seen it with the Supreme Court. We’ve seen it with federal judges.”
Trump appointed three Supreme Court justices during his first term and reshaped the federal judiciary with appointments that continue to influence major rulings. Kaepernick acknowledged that his earlier reasoning had merit but that the strategy was flawed. “Part of trying to seek the best way for us to move forward and have impact is also realizing the moments where the intention of the perspective was right, but the strategy behind it actually wasn’t,” he told NBC News.
Kaepernick’s 2016 decision not to vote occurred during the same year he began kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality against Black people. The kneeling protest became one of the most recognizable acts of activism in modern sports history, inspiring other athletes and sparking nationwide debate about patriotism, protest, and systemic racism.
The activist also discussed current politics in his interview, praising New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani as an inspiring leader. Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist elected in November 2025, has pursued an ambitious agenda including expanding universal childcare, freezing rent in rent-stabilized apartments, and opening city-run grocery stores. “When we talk about leaders that are moving the needle right now, I think we’re seeing real impact coming out of Mamdani,” Kaepernick said.
Kaepernick suggested that more people would engage in electoral politics if they saw leaders delivering tangible results. “Ultimately, I think a lot of those people who are out there that say, ‘Hey, this doesn’t represent me, I’m not voting, or I don’t feel great about the politicians out there,’ it’s because they aren’t seeing people move in that way,” he said. “The more that we see that come, we’ll see more and more people involved and excited about what is happening in the political sphere.”
His memoir comes a decade after his historic kneeling protest and reflects on the experiences that shaped his activism and worldview. The book is described by its publisher, Legacy Lit, as “equal parts memoir and manifesto.”
Sources
- NBC News — Kaepernick’s memoir and voting evolution, his praise for Mayor Mamdani, and his reflections on not voting in 2016
- CNN — Kaepernick’s 2016 statement explaining why he did not vote
- CBS Sports — Kaepernick’s 2016 comments calling voting “hypocritical”
- AP News — Kaepernick’s memoir release date and publisher description
