If you thought that Colin Kaepernick was making things uncomfortable in the San Francisco 49ers locker room this season, well think again. His teammates voted him the winner of the the Len Eshmont Award, for the courage he showed in the face of all the backlash he faced for kneeling during national anthems during the season.

“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses Black people and people of color,” Kaepernick said in August about his motivation for kneeling.

“I think what Kap did will be talked about for years to come – an NFL player using his platform for what he wanted to use it for,” veteran safety Antoine Bethea said Thursday on the CSN Bay Area’s 49ers podcast.

Despite countless other former players and athletes in general, not too mention media and fans alike taking aim at him for his stance, the only people who matter, his teammates, clearly had his back even if they didn’t all agree with him.

Kaepernick had the support of the 49ers organization from the start. After Kaepernick pledged $1 million to community organizations, 49ers CEO Jed York announced he would match the donation.

Salute to Kap!

Written by @IamJoeSports

NYDN