Kapernick isn’t just a hero. He’s one of those rare human beings who chose to seize a moment, to work for the betterment of humanity against his own interests.

He stood up for what was morally good and just even though he knew that would hurt him financially. He chose to do what was right instead of what was easy.

He forced a conversation most Americans did not want to have but desperately needed to have.

He’ll go down in history as a hero, not because he played the game of football very well, but because he gave football up to do what he knew he had to do.