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Colin Kaepernick's Jersey Sales Surging As Anthem Protest Garners More Support
49ers QB Colin Kaepernick is planning to donate any financial earnings he gets from the recent spike in sales of his No. 7 jersey "toward organizations that support his push to end racial inequality in this country," according to Matt Barrows of the SACRAMENTO BEE. Various NFL agents yesterday said that a top-selling jersey "could earn a player roughly $300,000 to $500,000." Kaepernick's jersey has "surged in popularity" since he began his protest during the playing of the National Anthem, becoming the "top seller at the 49ers team store and on NFLShop.com." Kaepernick yesterday said, "The jersey sales jumped because of people’s belief that there can be change, and we can make this country better, and that they believe that I was someone that could help that change. And for me, that support is something I have to give back to the communities for that cause" ( <a href="http://www.sacbee.com/sports/nfl/san-francisco-49ers/article100446522.html" target="_blank">SACRAMENTO BEE, 9/8</a> ). ESPN's Jemele Hill said she was "pleasantly surprised" Kaepernick's jersey is one of the league's top sellers. She added she "never expected" his protest "to be a galvanizing force, and it really appears that it has been." ESPN's Michael Smith asked, "Would you rather be the person who's got commercial ads ... or would you rather be the person who people ... are out actually wearing your jersey because of what you actually stand for?" Smith added of Kaepernick's jersey sales, "People are putting their money where their minds are" ( "His & Hers," ESPN2, 9/7 ).
