Colin Kaepernick, the former NFL quarterback and civil rights activist, was born on November 3, 1987, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His biological mother, Heidi Russo, a 19-year-old white American, placed him up for adoption. At six weeks old, Colin was adopted by Rick and Teresa Kaepernick, a white couple who had two biological children, Kyle and Devon. The Kaepernicks had previously lost two sons to heart defects, which led them to adopt Colin.
Early Life and Family Dynamics
Colin grew up in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, until his family moved to California when he was four years old. He began playing youth football at eight years old and excelled in multiple sports, including football, basketball, and baseball. Colin’s adoptive parents, Rick and Teresa, were supportive of his athletic pursuits, but he faced challenges due to his biracial identity. In his teenage years, Colin struggled with his parents’ inability to fully understand his experiences as a black person in a predominantly white family and community.
Adoptive Parents: Rick and Teresa Kaepernick
Rick and Teresa Kaepernick adopted Colin in December 1987. They had two biological children, Kyle and Devon, and had previously lost two sons to heart defects. The couple moved to California in 1992 due to Rick’s job in the dairy industry. Teresa worked as a nurse before focusing on charity work, including supporting families dealing with heart disease in children through the charity Camp Taylor.
Biological Parents: Heidi Russo and Unknown Father
Colin’s biological mother, Heidi Russo, was 19 years old when she gave birth to him. She later became a nurse and founded organizations to support birth parents, especially birth mothers, who put their children up for adoption. Colin’s biological father, whose identity is unknown, is of African-American descent with Ghanaian, Nigerian, and Ivorian ancestry.
Personal Life and Relationships
Colin Kaepernick began dating radio personality and television host Nessa Diab in 2015, and they welcomed their first child in August 2022. He has been open about his faith, which he believes guides him through life. Colin has multiple tattoos related to his faith, including a scroll with the Bible verse Psalm 18:39 and a Christian cross with the phrase “Heaven Sent”.
Career and Activism
Colin Kaepernick played six seasons for the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL. He became a household name in 2016 when he began kneeling during the National Anthem to protest police brutality. He has not played football professionally since 2017. Kaepernick has been recognized for his activism, winning several awards, including the GQ Magazine Citizen of the Year, Sports Illustrated Muhammad Ali Legacy Award, and the Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience Award.
Literary and Media Ventures
Colin Kaepernick has written two books: I Color Myself Different, a children’s book about embracing his black identity, and Change the Game, a graphic novel that explores his life story and the challenges he faced as a biracial adoptee. He also co-created the Netflix series Colin in Black & White, which chronicles his teenage years and experiences growing up in a white adoptive family.
References:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Kaepernick
- https://people.com/sports/colin-kaepernick-found-it-hard-to-call-out-adoptive-parents-over-race/
- https://people.com/sports/all-about-colin-kaepernick-parents/
- https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/500442/who-are-colin-kaepernick-parents/
