Colin Kaepernick's Parents

Colin Kaepernick is a former American football quarterback who played six seasons for the San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League. He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft with the 36th pick. The two-time Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year is a free agent as of October 2024. He helped the 49ers to their sixth Super Bowl appearance in 2012, and also the 2013 NFC Championship Game. In his six years with the 48ers, Kaepernick threw for more than 12k yards while also adding 2,300 yards on the ground during the same period. In his five-year tenure with Nevada Wolfpacks, Colin played in 51 games, accumulating more than 14,000 yards, both through air and ground. 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. He had 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. Kaepernick also has two NFL records under his belt: most rushing yards by a quarterback in a game (181) and most rushing yards by a quarterback in the postseason (264).

Who are Colin Kaepernick's parents?

Colin Kaepernick's parents are Teresa Kaepernick and Rick Kaepernick. However, the Kaepernicks are Colin's adoptive parents and not his biological ones.

Kaepernick who garnered attention by kneeling 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. However, his parents stand in solidarity with him and support their son’s decision to fight for the rights of others.

Born on November 3, 1987, Kaepernick’s birth mother is white of Italian descent. He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Heidi Russo. Following Kaepernick’s birth, Russo, then 19, placed him for adoption with Rick and Teresa Kaepernick when he was only 5 weeks old. The couple has two older children: son Kyle and daughter Devon. Due to congenital heart failure, the couple had lost two sons at birth.

The family moved from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, to Turlock, California, four years later. Growing up, Kaepernick played football, basketball, and baseball, which can account for his athletic ability. Growing up his family called him ‘Bo’ as an ode to Bo Jackson.

Who is Colin Kaepernick's Mother?

Teresa Kaepernick

Teresa Kaepernick is not Colin’s birth mom. She worked as a nurse when Colin was adopted by her and her husband, Rick. She has two other children - son Kyle and daughter Devon. She gave birth to two sons who she lost to heart defects, Lance and Kent.

Who is Colin Kaepernick's Father?

Rick Kaepernick

Rick Kaepernick is Colin’s adoptive father. 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. Rick’s family of 5 lived in Fond du Lac, before moving to California when Colin turned 4 years old so that Rick could take a job as an operations manager for the Hilmar Cheese Company.

Because of his different skin color, the Kaepernicks reaffirmed that it was perfectly alright, and always stood up for their youngest son. When Colin was a teenager, they even drove him an hour out of town to get him cornrows.

What nationality are Colin Kaepernick's Parents?

Colin Kaepernick's parents Teresa and Rick Kaepernick are American by nationality and of white descent. His birth mother is Italian-American while his birth father is African-American.

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How old are Colin Kaepernick's Parents?

There’s no definitive information about his parent’s age but according to sources his birth mom was born in 1969 and is 54 years old.

Who are Colin Kaepernick's Biological Parents?

Colin Kaepernick's mom is Heidi Russo. She gave Colin up for adoption soon after giving birth to him at the age of 19. Colin’s birth father’s identity is not known but he was an African-American, specifically of Ghanaian, Nigerian, and Ivorian descent. He left Russo once he learned she was pregnant.

Russo is white and of Italian descent. Russo currently lives in Denver, Colorado, and is a certified nurse. She was born in 1969 to Phyllis and James Zabransk. She is married to Heath Russo with whom she has three children - Michael, Ethan, and Alex. She currently lives in Denver, Colorado, US, along with her husband and three children.

She co-founded an advocacy group called ‘Linked Thru Love’ which aims at ending stereotypes associated with adoption and birth mothers. She founded the group with Jami Marcantonio. The group also aims to make people understand the concept of adoption. To extend support to biological mothers, she also launched a non-profit organization called ‘Three Strands’.

Does Kaepernick's family support him?

In an interview, Kaepernick mentioned his parents’ unwavering love and their constant support. They have been very open about the difficulties they and he faced while Colin was growing up and the prejudice they often encountered because of their different skin colors.

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. Colin said that it has been a constant journey for him and his family and that we’ve worked through it and have always been very loving in the process. He added he wouldn’t have done it with anyone else.

What is the relationship between Colin Kaepernick and his adoptive parents?

For the most part, Kaepernick shares a strong and pleasant relationship with his adoptive parents. However, about a year ago, he mentioned in an interview that he knew his white adoptive parents always loved him but that they struggled to cope with his racial preferences. For example, he cites that, one time he wanted to get cornrows his mother felt that it was very "unprofessional" and that it would make him look like "a little thug".

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