Colin Kaepernick Announces 2026 Memoir on Protest Journey

Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick announced on Tuesday plans to release a memoir titled The Perilous Fight on September 15, 2026, nearly a decade after he began protesting racial injustice and police brutality by kneeling during the national anthem at NFL games.

The book, published by Legacy Lit, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, combines elements of memoir and manifesto. It details Kaepernick's personal journey, from his early life navigating racial identity to his decision to protest and the broader movement it inspired in American sports and culture. An audiobook edition, narrated by Kaepernick, will be produced exclusively by Audible and released alongside the hardcover and ebook versions.

Kaepernick first drew national attention in August 2016 during the 49ers' preseason by remaining seated during the anthem. He switched to kneeling starting September 1, 2016, before a regular-season game against the San Diego Chargers, explaining the action as a protest against systemic oppression of Black people. The gesture sparked widespread debate, with some players joining in solidarity and others, including then-President Donald Trump, criticizing it as...