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Not that Colin Kaepernick needs cosigns from anyone regarding his political views or the depths of his character, but it is difficult to ignore how much the free agent quarterback has sparked a necessary discussion on race and justice. GQ named Kaepernick its “Citizen of the Year” as part of its annual “Men of the Year” feature coupled with a profile piece gathering the thoughts of Ava DuVernay, J. Cole, his partner Nessa and more on his social justice work.

GQ writes:

In 2013, Colin Kaepernick was on the cover of this magazine because he was one of the best football players in the world. In 2017, Colin Kaepernick is on GQ’s cover once again—but this time it is because he isn’t playing football. And it’s not because he’s hurt, or because he’s broken any rules, or because he’s not good enough. Approximately 90 men are currently employed as quarterbacks in the NFL, as either starters or reserves, and Colin Kaepernick is better—indisputably, undeniably, flat-out better—than at least 70 of them. He is still, to this day, one of the most gifted quarterbacks on earth. And yet he has been locked out of the game he loves—blackballed—because of one simple gesture: He knelt during the playing of our national anthem. And he did it for a clear reason, one that has been lost in the yearlong storm that followed. He did it to protest systemic oppression and, more specifically, as he said repeatedly at the time, police brutality toward black people.

When we began discussing this GQ cover with Colin earlier this fall, he told us the reason he wanted to participate is that he wants to reclaim the narrative of his protest, which has been hijacked by a president eager to make this moment about himself. But Colin also made it clear to us that he intended to remain silent. As his public identity has begun to shift from football star to embattled activist, he has grown wise to the power of his silence. It has helped his story go around the world. It has even provoked the ire and ill temper of Donald Trump. Why talk now, when your detractors will only twist your words and use them against you? Why speak now, when silence has done so much?

As noted in the Instagram post below, GQ says Kaepernick is its first “Man of the Year” recipient.

Check out the full profile and photo spread featuring Colin Kaepernick walking about the streets of Harlem, New York here. GQ‘s entire “Men of the Year” list can be found by following this link.

Photo: GQ