[52] He remained the starter for the rest of the season and led the 49ers to an 1141 record and a berth in the NFL playoffs. [170] Kaepernick spoke about his faith saying, "I think God guides me through every day and helps me take the right steps and has helped me to get to where I'm at. The birth mother was there. She is also seen posting about her family often on social media. "What we went through. Scarborough also felt that this instance of political correctness could help Donald Trump to be re-elected. Meet Colin Kaepernick's adoptive parents. Walk in the shoes of the birth mom. [13][14][15] Russo placed Kaepernick up for adoption and at 5 weeks old he was placed with a white couple named Rick and Teresa Kaepernick. Kaepernick withdrew the grievance in February 2019 after reaching a confidential settlement with the NFL. Ive seen the affects of unfit mothers selfishly keeping children. The athlete hasnt played in an NFL game for five years, but in May trained with the Las Vegas Raiders. Colin Kaepernick Says He Knows His Adoptive Parents 'Loved' Him, but Struggled to Embrace His Blackness, They adopted Colin when he was six weeks old. Pete, you are so far from the truth it makes me sick. Easy for you to judge the hardest decision she ever had to make in her life. [59] The team advanced to Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans against the Baltimore Ravens. [82] After having lost weight and muscle mass because of the injuries,[83] he competed for the starting quarterback position with Gabbert. Colin was born to Heidi Russo when she was 19 years old; in recent years, she has opened up about her past in interviews and on social media, citing the act of putting her son up for adoption as one of the "toughest decisions" she's ever made. Heidi was 19-year-old, broke, and without a partner to help raise Colin. Heidi Russo was a teenager when she had to make a decision that affected five lives, and set in motion the course those lives would take in years to come, but her choice came with a hefty price. His biological mother Heidi Russo, based in Thorton, Colo, is a 52-year-old nurse as per ESPN. The footballers African roots, What is Sofia Richies ethnicity? [109], In October 2017, Kaepernick filed a grievance against the NFL, accusing league owners of collusion to keep him out of the league. We want people to know that we are very proud of our son and admire his strength and courage in kneeling for the rights of others.. The couple has two older children: son Kyle and daughter Devon. [166][167][168], Kaepernick was baptized Methodist, confirmed Lutheran, and attended a Baptist church during his college years. They are a white couple from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, who are parents to a daughter named Devon and a son named Kyle. The model was subsequently withdrawn after Colin Kaepernick told the brand he and others found the flag offensive because they associated it with slavery. Also Check Out: Complete NFL Week 12 TV Schedule, Master Your Draft Strategy With Our Free and Easy-to-Use Mock Draft Simulator, Be the first one to comment on this story. Instagram; Skyler Caruso is the Editorial Assistant of PEOPLE Digital. Your login session has expired. Written to the left and right of the cross is the Bible verse Psalm 27:3. More recently, he has released a documentary series that gets into every detail about his life. His birth mother is White. [91] For the 2016 NFL season, Kaepernick played twelve games and ended the season with 2,241 passing yards, sixteen passing touchdowns, four interceptions and added 468 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Following Kaepernicks birth, Russo, then 19, placed him for adoption with Rick and Teresa Kaepernick when he was only 5 weeks old. [130] During a post-game interview, Kaepernick explained his position stating, "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. The path less traveled doesnt need to be one of destruction,she wrote in a subsequent tweet. "I know my. Where are Colin Kaepernick's parents from? Heidi has spoken on her YouTube channel about the moment she found out she was pregnant with Colin and the events that unfolded in the weeks that followed. He rushed for 639 yards and one touchdown. He instead moved to an Atlanta-area high school, where he held a public throwing session attended by scouts from seven NFL teams. My parents and my family had to develop as well. Though Kaepernick only recorded one win in 11 starts last year for the rebuilding 49ers, he completed 59.2 percent of his passes with 16 touchdowns and four interceptions. According to reports, Russo's parents offered help to help raise him. "We're blessed," Camp Taylor founder Kimberlie Gamino told CBS News in 2013. If shed selfishly kept him, his quality of life would never be near as good, she knew that. 2023 Cable News Network. Based on her Facebook profile, she studied nursing at the University of Wisconsin and works as a registered nurse at Good Samaritan Medical Center. In an interview with. She gave up Kap when was around five months old. [151][152][153] Joe Scarborough decried Nike's decision as "politically correct madness", saying that the flag should be seen as a symbol of resistance against King George III. The quarterback once opened up about his [adoptive] parents, not making him feel like he's not their son, and he credits his [adoptive] mother for making sure everyone at the little league baseball games knew she is his mother. With his performance, he set an NFL single-game record for most rushing yards by a quarterback with 181, breaking Michael Vick's record of 173 in a 2002 regular season game. His birth mother is Italian-American while his birth father is African-American. 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh wouldn't say after win over Bears", "Examining the 49ers Quarterback Controversy", "San Francisco 49ers at New England Patriots - December 16th, 2012", "Kaepernick doesn't disappoint as 49ers defeat Saints", "The Ultimate Sibling Rivalry: 8 Sets of Brothers Who Faced Off in Sports Championships", "Colin Kaepernick sets QB rushing mark as Niners oust Packers", "Putting Kaepernick's rushing performance in franchise, league perspective", "NFC Championship - San Francisco 49ers at Atlanta Falcons - January 20th, 2013", "Ravens overcome power outage, survive rally to win Super Bowl", "Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers - September 8th, 2013", "Colin Kaepernick leads 49ers past Packers 34-28", "2013 San Francisco 49ers Statistics & Players", "NFC Championship - San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks - January 19th, 2014", "Colin Kaepernick Salary cap and Contract page", "Colin Kaepernick's fine-canceling headphones", "San Diego Chargers at San Francisco 49ers - December 20th, 2014", "2014 San Francisco 49ers Statistics & Players", "Jim Harbaugh explains his decision to return to Michigan", "Niners bench Colin Kaepernick; Blaine Gabbert to start", "Atlanta Falcons at San Francisco 49ers - November 8th, 2015", "49ers' Colin Kaepernick done for season because of shoulder injury", "49ers hire Chip Kelly as next head coach: 5 things to know", "Kaepernick's request doesn't mean he won't stay", "Chip Kelly defends Colin Kaepernick, says former 49ers QB was 'zero distraction' in 2016", "s It a Risk for the 49ers to Start Colin Kaepernick? Colin Kaepernick, in full Colin Rand Kaepernick, (born November 3, 1987, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.), American gridiron football player and social activist who had success as a quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers (2011-16) of the NFL but was better known for kneeling during the national anthem before games to protest racial injustice and Born on November 3, 1987, Kaepernick's birth mother is white of Italian descent. In the same interview, Kaepernick said he still has a desire to play football professionally. He is also a noted civil rights activist and has protested against racial injustice, police brutality and systematic oppression in the NFL which received widespread attention in 2020. [64], In the Wild Card Round, the 49ers played the Green Bay Packers. Russo, now in her early 50s, gave birth to the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1987 when she was just 19. The Seahawks set up another visit and workout with him in April 2018, but the team postponed it indefinitely after he would not say whether he would continue his national anthem protest or not. She wanted the best for Colin. [92][93], During the offseason, San Francisco hired Kyle Shanahan from Atlanta to be their new coach. Kaepernick maintained a 4.0 grade point average during his college years and graduated in 2011 with a bachelor's degree in business management. Colin Kaepernick high-school wife was popular by the fifth episode of Colin within the Black colored Light where the player is visible dating a woman entitled Crystal. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories. [43], Kaepernick spent the 2011 season as backup to Alex Smith and attempted just five passes in three games during the season. Kaepernick was adopted by Rick and Teresa Kaepernick when he was only 5 weeks old. The former NFL quarterback, who famously played six seasons for the San Francisco 49ers, was raised by Teresa and Rick Kaepernick, a Wisconsin couple who . In Colin in Black and White, a Netflix series revisiting Kaepernicks childhood from 2021, there is a scene depicting the moment the former NFL players mother calls him a thug because they disapprove of his hair. "To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. [158] The Times wrote that Goodell's "words were panned as hypocritical because of the league owners' rejection of Kaepernick. She gave birth to two sons who she lost to heart defects, Lance and Kent. Even if it means sacrificing everything." Colin Kaepernick's dad broke his son's silence for him. She expressed that she supported his cause, although she disapproved of his methods. Colins perception in peoples eyes changed during the George Floyd protests, as taking the knee became an international symbol against racism and police brutality. He lost his place in the NFL, and despite support from some quarters, he still received criticism. Thus, in his view, he does not need, nor would he need his birth mother, Heidi Russo. [44], In 2012, Kaepernick was initially used sparingly to run certain plays. The show depicts the prejudices he faced growing up biracial alongside white siblings and white parents. [161], Kaepernick supports the abolition of police and prisons. [117], On November 12, 2019, the NFL set up a workout for him in Atlanta on Saturday, November 16. The only difference is his skin is a little bit browner than ours.. Heidi was 19-year-old, broke, and without a partner to help raise Colin. Colin Kaepernick, left, and girlfriend Nessa Diab attend The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala celebrating the opening of the "Camp: Notes on Fashion" exhibition on Monday, May 6, 2019, in New York. She was born in 1969 to Phyllis and James Zabransk. It also expressed shock at the amount of racist hatred out there! The parents admitted that the aftermath of Colins statement had opened their eyes to the dire racial atmosphere in the USA. [139] Kaepernick went on to kneel during the anthem prior to every 49ers game that season. [95] The 49ers told Kaepernick that they planned to release him. It was co-written with Eve Ewing. Kaepernick's birth mom, Heidi Russo, is a 52-year-old nurse who lives in Denver, Colorado. And she needed a couple more minutes. COLIN Kaepernick is a former NFL quarterback-turned-civil-rights-activist who made headlines in 2016 after kneeling during the national anthem to call attentionto issues of racial inequality and police brutality. Kaepernicks dad was an African-American man with Ghanaian, Nigerian, and Ivorian roots. [9] They lived in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and had two biological children, Kyle and Devon. I think it was important to show that, no, this can happen in your home, and how you move forward collectively while addressing the racism that is being perpetuated., He revealed that once, when he had cornrows as a child, Teresa allegedly said: Your hair is not professional, you look like a little thug.. Although the identity of Colin's birth mother has been revealed, he has yet to connect with her. [53][54][55][56], In his first career postseason start, against the Green Bay Packers, Kaepernick had 263 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, one interception and 181 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns as the 49ers defeated the Packers 4531. His right arm features a scroll with the Bible verse Psalm 18:39 written on it. However, per Colin's biography on Wikipedia, his biological father is an African-American who is of Ghanaian, Nigerian, and Ivorian ancestry. In a 2013 interview with Fox News13, she called it the toughest decision she had to make, but the best for the son she nursed for only six weeks. They had two children, Kyle and Brown, and had lost two sons, Lance and Kent, to heart defects. [citation needed], After initial backlash against his protests, Kaepernick pledged to donate $1 million to "organizations working in oppressed communities". "I thought long and hard about sharing our life changing news today. [9] In November 2017, he filed a grievance against the NFL and its owners, accusing them of colluding to keep him out of the league. Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick accused his White adoptive parents of perpetuating racism in their household in an interview with CBS Adriana Diaz on Thursday. The identity of his biological father is unknown. In a Week 13 loss to the Chicago Bears, Kaepernick threw a career-low four yards before getting benched for Gabbert. Colin never know his beginning father in which he try with his biological mom for around 5 weeks. Kaepernick threw for 302 yards, one passing touchdown, and ran for a touchdown, but the 49ers fell behind early and could not come back, losing by a score of 3431. [155] Nike's decision to withdraw the product drew criticism from Arizona's Republican Governor, Doug Ducey, who subsequently pulled a US$2 million tax incentive for a Nike factory in the state,[156] and Texas's Republican Senator Ted Cruz. Kaepernick won NFC Offensive Player of the Week for Week 15 against the New England Patriots. [78], Head coach Tomsula was fired following the season and the 49ers hired Chip Kelly as his replacement. He was adopted into a white family when he was 5 weeks old by Rick and Teresa Kaepernick. Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 16 April 2023, at 01:38. Colin Kaepernick is an American professional football player and spokesperson. Colin Kaepernick's birth mother, Heidi Russo became a topic of discussion when it became public knowledge that she's the woman who gave birth to the talented quarterback. Instead of saying that Colin does all these great things and donates his time to children, this guy is going to make him out like a gangster,Rick added. Rick and Teresa Kaepernick are a couple from Wisconsin. [147] In April 2020, the Know Your Rights Camp launched a relief fund for individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. [123] XFL quarterbacks were paid $250,000 per season[123] while AAF quarterbacks were signed to an unguaranteed $250,000 over three seasons. Heidi, then 19, raised Colin for a few weeks while looking for the right family to raise him. He passed for 221 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception in the 4134 victory. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. "I think it was important to show, 'No, this can happen in your own home.' His birth mom had him when she was just a teenager and that 19-year-old mother was broke and unmarried at that time, thus, the decision of giving up . Your login session has expired. The actions resulted in a wider protest movement, which intensified in September 2017 after President Donald Trump said that NFL owners should "fire" players who protest during the national anthem. What Kaepernick was alluding to is that his parents will always be Rick and Teresa, and going back to his mother might take some time or never happen at all. Colin Kaepernick's Biological Mother Reveals How She Met Rick and Teresa Kaepernick, His Adoptive Parents: "I Start Crying Because They Were the Ones" Published 07/26/2022, 8:56 AM EDT By Abhimanyu Chaudhary Follow Us via Getty Rick and Teresa Kaepernick adopted Colin Kaepernick when he was just five weeks old. Kaepernick is very close with his parents (when asked by ESPN columnist Rick Reilly why he didn't wish to meet his birth mother, Kaepernick said, "It's just -- that's my family. [60] He was ranked 81st by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2013. Colin Kaepernick is famous as an NFL quarterback. But he is open about the challenges they have experienced; in a 2018 interview with VH1, the former football player opened up about the learning process he and his family have experienced as he grew older. [136] Photos then surfaced of him wearing socks depicting police officers as pigs. Kaepernick who garnered attention by kneeling down during the playing of the national anthem in the 2016 NFL season, as a means of protest against social injustice, especially the deaths of African-Americans at the hands of police, has been under fire ever since. Beyond that, he is the guy that got stared at for having a different skin color from his parents, and that's because his birth mother, Heidi Russo, gave him up for adoption as a baby. However, Heidi gave Colin up for adoption to Rick and Teresa Kaepernick, a white couple from Wisconsin. Kaepernick's biological mother, Heidi Russo, was 19 when he was born. The protests received highly polarized reactions, with some praising him and his stand against racism and others denouncing the protests. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Where Is Colin Kaepernick Now? Its an open secret that Colin Kaepernick was raised by white adoptive parents. It only got worse as I got older and taller,he toldUS Magazine. "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," he told NFL Media at the time. [124], In June 2020, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said that he regretted not signing Kaepernick in 2017; however for the 2020 season, he would not be signing him and was happy with Geno Smith as the team's backup quarterback. As a 19 year old woman, Heidi Russo gave up Kaepernick for adoption knowing she couldnt adequately care for him. She has two other children - son Kyle and daughter Devon. However, his parents stand in solidarity with him and support their sons decisions to fight for the rights of others. The couple has been married for over 30 years and have . Speaking for the first time, Phyllis and James Zabransky have revealed that throughout . Advertisement Colin's birth father is an African-American man, and he left Russo before their son was born. After losing two sons to heart defects, Rick & Teresa first held their new son at only 5 weeks old at the Lutheran Social Services office in Appleton, Wisconsin. hes been involved in a turbulent relationship with a scorned ex girlfriend since taking over the starting QB job. His siblings include his brother, Kyle, and sister, Devon. Sadly, they also lost two newborn boys, Lance and Kent, to congenital heart defects. When he saw the backup quarterback whom the Seahawks signed Monday over Kaepernick, Austin Davis, accepted the veteran minimum salary of $775,000 to play, Prisco jumped on the opportunity to reiterate his stance. He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Heidi Russo. Rick had reportedly planned to retire from Hilmar in June 2015. CNN attempted to reach out to them for comment but did not immediately receive a response. In an interview with The Undefeated, his mother said I just want to be on the record that we absolutely do support him, regarding his political protest during the national anthem. [118] On Saturdays, teams are preparing for games the next day and travelling to away games. On October 13, it was announced that he and the 49ers restructured his contract, turning it into a two-year deal with a player option for the next season. Despite his refusal to see her, she is proud of his achievements. Details about where Colin came from were shown in an episode of the show. Colins parents had previously defended him after a columnist criticized Colin because of his tattoos. As a 19 year old woman, Heidi Russo gave up Kaepernick for adoption knowing she couldn't adequately care for him. Eli Harold #58, Kaepernick #7 and Eric Reid #35 of the San Francisco 49ers kneel for the anthem prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Levi Stadium on October 23, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. [87] On November 27, he recorded 296 passing yards, three passing touchdowns and 113 yards rushing in the 49ers' 3124 loss to the Miami Dolphins. In that game, Kaepernick scored 34 points, but future NBA player Ryan Anderson of Oak Ridge scored 50 points to lead his team to a victory. On the other hand, his birth father is a black American of Ghanaian, Nigerian, and Ivorian ancestry. Published In a completely unsurprising turn of events, Colin Kaepernicks biological mother wants to meet her super-stud king of the NFL genetic son. The Milwaukee resident does not want the quarterback's money, but an opportunity to get to know him, and vice-versa. is a football quarterback who has played six seasons for the San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League. Really? The short answer to this question is Teresa Kaepernick. Kaepernick was adopted by Rick and Teresa Kaepernick when he was only 5 weeks old. 9:54 AM EST, Fri March 10, 2023. Colin Kaepernick's new Netflix series compares the NFL Draft process to slavery. he has nothing to do with this story. 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Colin Kaepernick with his adoptive parents, Teresa Kaepernick, Rick Kaepernick and girlfriend, Nessa Diab, Kaepernick's family is the subject of a Netflix show, Colin in Black & White, about his life. Colin is the most amazing dad and Im soooo grateful that he is by our side for every moment of this journey., I know sharing this allows me to connect with you in different ways that I never imagined, Diab wrote. Still, that hasn't stopped her from chiming in on his protests over the years. [148] Kaepernick donated $100,000 to the fund. [58][57] In the NFC Championship, the 49ers defeated the Atlanta Falcons 2824 with Kaepernick completing 16-of-21 passes for 233 yards and one touchdown. Kaepernick who is of mixed race apparently never knew his biological parents, until now. He filed a grievance against the NFL and its owners in November 2017, accusing them of colluding to keep him out of the league which he withdrew in February 2019 after reaching a confidential settlement. [143], Inspired by Kaepernick, other NFL players and pro athletes conducted various forms of silent protests during the national anthem. [19] The University of Nevada, Reno was the only college to offer him a football scholarship, and Kaepernick signed with Nevada in February 2006. Colin, who is biracial and identifies as Black, has been open about the unique challenges of growing up within a white adoptive family. Out! She left Colin for adoption when she was only 19, unmarried and broke, and gave him to another nurse, Teresa. Discovery Company. Kaepernick was named WAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year with Kellen Moore, who had won the award in 2009. "Its just thats my family. [38], Kaepernick finished his collegiate career with 10,098 passing yards, 82 passing touchdowns, 24 interceptions, 4,112 rushing yards and 59 rushing touchdowns. In an interview, Kaepernick mentioned his parents unwavering love and their constant support. She tweeted:Theres ways to make change w/o disrespecting and bringing shame to the very country and family who afforded you so many blessings.. Mother will long for her child, famous or not. [73] Following the season, head coach Jim Harbaugh left to coach the University of Michigan. Russo became a certified nurse and started a family. It is no secret that Colin Kaepernick was adopted, but that left many to wonder who his biological parents are, as Colin had never mentioned those details in any interviews before. My conversations and life experiences have already changed. The trainers were designed to celebrate Independence Day. The Kaepernicks decided to adopt after they lost two children to . On March 9, 2023, in an interview with CBS Adriana Diaz, Kaepernick accused his White adoptive parents of perpetuating racism in their household. Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick rose to stardom after taking a knee in 2016, to help bring awareness to police brutality and deeply rooted racism prevalent in the United States. "Guess that makes me a proud bitch!" His identity is unknown, as he separated from Heidi before Colin's birth. The pro footballer got his towering height from his parents, who are both 6' 2. Who are Colin Kaepernicks adoptive parents? Nevada Head Coach Chris Ault would later call this game the "most important win in program history". "I think about them every day," Teresa told ESPN of Lance and Kent. [27] At the Humanitarian Bowl, he had 370 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, two interceptions, 15 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown, earning the game's MVP award despite his team losing the game. The Wisconsin couple adopted him after they had lost two sons at birth to congenital heart failure. Kaepernick would go on to be adopted by Rick and Teresa Kaepernick. They moved because of Rick's job as the senior vice president of growth and development at Hilmar Cheese Company. [31] He decided that he wanted to continue to play football at the University of Nevada and did not sign with the Cubs.[32]. Thats it.. Born: 1969 Born In: United States 22 13 Quick Facts Age: 54 Years, 54 Year Old Females Family: Spouse/Ex-: Heath Russo father: James Zabransky mother: Phyllis children: Alex Russo, Colin Kaepernick, Ethan Russo, Michael Russo Born Country: United States Family Members American Women Early Life He is a free agent. His left arm features a Christian cross with the words "Heaven Sent" on it referring to Jesus Christ. At the time, he defended his choice to kneel, saying that it was "bigger than football.". [80], Kaepernick was coming off three surgeries entering the 2016 season,[81] needing operations on his thumb and knee in addition to the season-ending shoulder procedure. Colin Kaepernick's birth mother is named Heidi Russo, as was revealed on the show. They released a statement in December 2016, saying, "As his parents, it pains us to read articles and tweets saying that his family does not support him; this could not be further from the truth. She explained she chose to time her announcement because today is the first day in a few weeks where I stepped out for work with a new life title - MOM.. In a Twitter post, the nurse practitioner wrote that the QB was bringing shame and disrespect to his family, and country. During the 2013 season, his first full season as a starter, Kaepernick helped the 49ers reach the NFC Championship Game. Smith was ranked third in the NFL in passer rating (104.1), led the league in completion percentage (70%), and had been 1951 as a starter under Harbaugh, while Kaepernick was considered more dynamic with his scrambling ability and arm strength. [42] After his senior season, Kaepernick was eligible for the 2011 NFL Draft. Russo currently lives with two sons in Colorado and gave an interview to the Denver Fox affiliate.

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