Colin Kaepernick can officially add another accomplishment to his résumé.
The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback’s new memoir, “The Perilous Fight,” debuted at No. 1 on The New York Times Best Sellers list. The book landed atop the hardcover nonfiction rankings following its Sept. 15 release. Kaepernick celebrated the news on social media shortly after the ranking was announced.
“#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER,” Kaepernick wrote.
He also thanked readers who purchased the memoir and attended stops during his book tour.
“It’s been a long time coming,” he wrote.
The achievement comes a decade after Kaepernick’s national anthem protest became one of the biggest stories in professional sports.
“The Perilous Fight” was published by Legacy Lit, an imprint of Hachette Book Group. Journalist and author Nick Chiles collaborated with Kaepernick on the memoir.
The 288-page book traces Kaepernick’s childhood, football career and evolution as an activist. It also revisits his controversial departure from professional football. An audiobook version is narrated by Kaepernick and was released alongside the hardcover and e-book editions.
Kaepernick tells his story in his own words
Kaepernick entered the NFL after the San Francisco 49ers selected him in the second round of the 2011 draft. He eventually became the team’s starting quarterback and helped lead San Francisco to Super Bowl XLVII. However, his career took a dramatic turn during the 2016 NFL preseason.
Kaepernick initially sat during the national anthem to protest racial injustice and police violence against Black Americans. He later began kneeling after discussing his protest with former NFL player and Green Beret Nate Boyer.
The demonstration sparked a national debate surrounding race, policing, patriotism and athletes using their platforms for social causes. Kaepernick has not played in an NFL regular-season game since the 2016 season.
In “The Perilous Fight,” he provides his perspective on the events surrounding his protest and subsequent exit from the league.
The memoir also explores the experiences that influenced his political and social awareness. Kaepernick writes about being adopted by white parents and navigating predominantly white environments while growing up. He also discusses his growing interest in Black history and racial justice.
His reading included “The Autobiography of Malcolm X,” which became influential in the development of his worldview.
Kaepernick also addresses several high-profile moments that followed his protest. That includes his relationship with the NFL and his disagreements with some prominent figures in sports and entertainment.
A new chapter beyond football
“The Perilous Fight” arrives as Kaepernick continues building projects outside professional football.
He founded Know Your Rights Camp, an organization focused on education and empowerment for Black and brown youth. His other ventures include Kaepernick Publishing and Kaepernick Media.
Kaepernick previously expanded his story into television with Netflix’s “Colin in Black & White.” The scripted limited series examined his teenage years and experiences surrounding race and identity. His newest project gives readers a more extensive account directly from his perspective.
The memoir also arrives roughly 10 years after his protest first drew widespread national attention. Kaepernick has continued discussing the decision during interviews surrounding the book’s release.
He told Time that he intentionally avoided becoming the only voice associated with the movement after leaving football. Kaepernick said he wanted other athletes and activists to have room to speak.
Now, readers appear eager to hear more of his own story. With “The Perilous Fight” reaching No. 1, Kaepernick’s story has found a sizable audience beyond the football field.