Colin Kaepernick to receive Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award

Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick is set to receive the 2026 Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award from the Ali Center, honoring his commitment to social justice and underserved communities through his ‘Know Your Rights’ camps.

In recent reflections and his upcoming memoir, ‘The Perilous Fight’, Kaepernick continues to criticize the NFL, accusing the league of ‘actively blackballing’ him and his fellow protesters due to his political stances. He noted that he no longer supports the organization and prefers watching college football instead. He also alleged that the league has targeted family members who participated in his movement.

Kaepernick’s protest, which began in 2016 by kneeling during the national anthem to highlight racial injustice and police brutality, led to a legal grievance regarding collusion, which resulted in a settlement in 2019. Since leaving the professional league, he has focused on philanthropic efforts, including providing legal education for youth and funding independent autopsies in cases of suspected police misconduct.