Kaepernick’s GQ coverage bid to ‘reclaim the narrative’

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who began the movement of NFL players protesting during the U.S. national anthem last season and remains unemployed after parting ways with the 49ers in March, appears on the December cover of GQ as the magazine’s citizen of the year.

Warriors star Kevin Durant, latenight host Stephen Colbert and actress Gal Gadot are among the other celebrities recognized in GQ’s “Men (and Woman) of the Year” issue, which will feature photographs of Kaepernick in Harlem, “intending to evoke the spirit of Muhammad Ali’s anti-Vietnam War protests in the neighbourhood during the late 60s.”

Kaepernick doesn’t go on record with the magazine, but the issue includes commentary from 10 of his closest confidants, including rapper J. Cole, former 49ers teammate Eric Reid, filmmaker Ava DuVernay and activist Harry Belafonte.

Kaepernick, who filed a grievance last month accusing NFL teams of colluding to keep him out of the league, agreed to collaborate with the magazine on the special project in an attempt to “reclaim the narrative of his protest.”