Colin Kaepernick will end national anthem protest and stand in 2017

Colin Kaepernick will stand during the playing of the national anthem at games during the 2017 season, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Kaepernick drew attention in August when he sat on the bench during the playing of the national anthem at a preseason game. When asked about the decision, he told NFL.com that he would not “show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.”

After meeting with former Green Beret and NFL long snapper Nate Boyer, Kaepernick’s protest shifted from sitting to taking a knee during the playing of the anthem.

However, the quarterback no longer wants that method of protest to distract from the positive change he’s looking to make and has already made, according to Schefter. He believes that his protest accomplished its goal of creating national discussion about social inequality in the United States.

Kaepernick’s protest started a movement with several other NFL players joining, including Arian Foster, Martellus Bennett, and Jeremy Lane, among others. It also spread to other sports with Megan Rapinoe of the United States women’s national soccer team and many high school and college players making similar protests.

In the time since Kaepernick’s protest has been in the spotlight, the quarterback has upped his humanitarian efforts off the field, pledging $1 million in donations over the course of 10 months.

Kaepernick is set to become a free agent for the first time in his career after reportedly telling teams Tuesday that he will opt out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers. A return to the only team he’s ever played for is still possible, though.

A second-round pick in the 2011 NFL draft, Kaepernick made 58 starts in his six seasons in San Francisco and has 72 career touchdown passes with 30 interceptions.