Nike named Colin Kaepernick as the face of the company’s 30th anniversary of the famed “Just Do It” campaign. The new ad featuring Kaepernick was shared on social media Monday afternoon with the message: “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything” and comes after Kaepernick, who has been without a team since he opted out of his contract with the 49ers in March 2017, filed a grievance against NFL team owners. Nike first signed Kaepernick in 2011. Other athletes in the campaign include Odell Beckham Jr., Shaquem Griffin, Lacey Baker, Serena Williams and LeBron James.
“We believe Colin is one of the most inspirational athletes of this generation, who has leveraged the power of sport to help move the world forward,” Gino Fisanotti, Nike’s VP of brand for North America, told ESPN, adding “”We wanted to energize its meaning and introduce ‘Just Do It’ to a new generation of athletes.”
Yahoo Sports reports that Kaepernick and Nike agreed to a new contract that will serve as a “wide endorsement” where Kaepernick will have his own branded line including shoes, shirts, jerseys and more. According to Charles Robinson, Kaepernick signed a “star” contract that puts him with “top-end NFL players.”