-[whistle blows] -[man] There you go.
[Colin] It's funny.
You would think going out
and being clearly better than your competition would be enough.
But often, too often, it takes one more thing to get over that hump.
Something I got as a kid.
A white man's stamp of approval.
America promises equal opportunity to everyone, no matter who you are.
You can go to a good school, get a great job, live in a great house.
But none of that is possible
without that white man's stamp of approval.
Don't believe me?
Here. I'll prove it to you.
In 2011, Kelley Williams-Bolar spent nine days in jail
for sending her daughters to a high-performing school
outside of her district.
She had unknowingly broken a law called boundary-hopping.
In the land of opportunity, that law is meant to make sure
poor, underprivileged folk don't better educate themselves
without that white man's stamp of approval.
Then there's the question of employment.
Can you get a good job earning a living wage
without that white man's stamp of approval?
Making minimum wage, he would have to work 140 hours a week,
or better put, 24 hours a day, six days a week,
to earn a living wage.
Now, if that makes you go in to work tomorrow
and ask your boss for a raise, be prepared.
You'll probably need that white man's stamp of approval.
So now you wanna buy a house, and you have to get a loan.
I think you can see where this is going.
In 2015, 27.4% of Black applicants were denied mortgages,
more than twice that of white applicants.
And when Black applicants were approved, they usually paid higher interest rates.
The top lenders are JP Morgan, Wells Fargo, and Quicken Loans.
Wanna take a guess who runs these companies?
As long as we need that white man's stamp of approval,
our fate will be in the hands of those who may not think we qualify.
Some people will say the system is broken.
I'm here to tell you it was intentionally built this way.
[theme music playing]
Hey. If I score 100 touchdowns this season, will you get me a car?
Colin, that's about 10 a game. I mean, that's a lot, even for you.
Fine.
What if I make varsity?
You are a freshman. I'd be shocked if they even consider you for varsity.
True, but...
Okay, if I make varsity, or JV starter, then you have to get me a car.
How about we just get you to tryouts on time? Let's move.
[young Colin] Varsity's already started.
Whoa.
I can't wait for that to be me.
You'll get there.
Right now, you better focus on your competition.
Oh, yeah. I got this.
[Colin] Competition? I wasn't even worried about it.
I knew that if I do what I do, there is no competition.
Good morning, coaches. Colin Kaepernick, quarterback.
Kaepernack.
No, uh, Kaepernick.
[coach 1] Yeah, I've seen you play baseball.
You're also a solid quarterback and receiver, I heard.
That's a good thing.
Arms that skinny, we can get you catching the ball if you're not throwing it.
[coaches laughing]
Um, respectfully, coaches, I'm here to play QB.
Hey, lighten up. It's a joke.
What do you know about progressions? Reading defenses?
Man versus zone, safety reads,
middle of the field open or closed, yeah, I know all that stuff.
[coach 2] Okay. Coach Berg oversees the JV and the freshman teams.
Now, if he says you got it, you got it.
[Jordan] Hey, coach.
How's it going, son? Real excited about this kid.
Gotta tell you, coach, real prospect. Hell of an arm.
Colin. Say.
What's up?
Peep your competition?
Competition?
For you guys, maybe.
Wow, so it's like that now? That's the way we riding this year?
Bro, you know I'm a baseball player. I don't care about football.
Just want my letterman jacket, impress some easy breezies.
Easy breezies?
[Gritts] Unless that jacket got chips in it, that ain't happening.
And I'm not talking about potato chips.
Ah, shit. Colin already got his game face on.
Let's warm up.
[Colin] First thing you do when you walk on the field
is size up the competition.
And you gotta know they're sizing you up too.
What's up with old boy, anyway?
He's from the Bay. Some fancy private school or whatever.
Sound kind of nervous there, Colin.
Gonna let the white boy from San Fran take your spot?
No.
Just curious about the kid who's about to be my backup.
[Gritts] Okay. Let's get it then.
-[blowing whistle] -[dramatic music playing]
[Berg] First up, Jordan and Colin.
-Good luck. -Yeah. You too.
[Colin] When I woke up that morning, I told myself I was gonna put on a show.
Okay, let's go.
-Show coach! Go! -Set, hut!
[Colin] That's exactly what I did.
Nice arm, Kaepernick.
-Go! -[Berg] Come on, Jordan.
[Colin] Don't get me wrong, Jordan was okay.
But I was in my zone.
Again!
D slant, D slant, let's go, hut!
[Colin] Three step drop, hitting short routes all day.
Big guns, big fun.
Time for the big one. Deep routes! [blows whistle]
-Let's go! -[Berg] Hustle!
Come on, dude.
Jordan has a wet noodle arm. Am I right?
[Colin] But when it came time to show what I could really do,
I knew I had JV QB locked up.
Set, hut!
Oh, shit.
[players] Oh!
Yes!
[Berg] Okay, listen up. Receivers.
Lopez, freshman team.
Payo, JV.
Grubik, JV. Millen, JV.
Gritts, JV.
Yeah, that's what's up, baby.
We dominating.
[Berg] The quarterbacks.
Jordan Johnson on JV, Colin Kaepernick, freshman team.
Coach.
Look, I know you're disappointed, but trust me, I know what I'm doing.
Tell me what I did wrong.
You got a ton of natural talent. No one's trying to take that from you.
Being a quarterback's more than throwing the ball.
I need to know my quarterback has full command of the offense.
And Johnson? He's the prototype I'm looking for.
What kind of answer is that? I don't even know what that means.
-I know. -You're gonna have to prove him wrong.
Why am I always the one that has to prove them wrong?
Because you're the one who's strong enough to do it.
That's right.
That doesn't help at all.
It's all I got.
[Rick] Is this, uh...?
-[sniffs] Is this pork? -It's the patty of the month club.
["Out of Business" playing]
Break!
[Colin] Mom was right. I could handle it.
And being mad about it wasn't going to change the situation.
So instead, I embraced it.
Blue 13, Blue 13, set, hut!
[Colin] That whole season was about me showing them that they made a mistake.
Hut!
I wasn't just there to play. I was there to dominate.
♪ It's on now, baby ♪
[Berg] Good season, Kaepernick.
Conference champs ain't nothing to be sneezed at.
Even if it is a freshman team.
Yeah, well, I'll be ready for the top spot next season, coach.
Look, I can't stop you from trying out, Kaepernick,
but I can make the decision easier for you.
We've got a quarterback.
And instead of being overly ambitious,
he's focused on leading his team and getting better.
Maybe you should do the same, huh?
[Rick & Teresa laughing]
There he is. Did you talk to coach?
He talked to me.
-What did he say? -They already have a quarterback.
And it ain't me.
[groans]
-What are you doing? -Calling the school.
Call the superintendent if I have to.
[line ringing]
[sighs] Put the phone down, Teresa.
Then you handle it.
[phone beeps]
Actually...
[knock on door]
Come in.
Hey.
Homework?
Yeah.
[groans]
Listen, I talked to a guy who knows a guy who knows... a guy.
Okay.
The guy he knows is named Roger Theder.
Who?
"Who"?
Uh, the quarterback guru who worked for the Colts and Chargers,
and when he was at Cal
he helped make Steve Bartkowski the number one pick in 1975.
That's who.
-Okay. -Colin, look at me.
Roger's agreed to sit down and meet with you
to talk about training with him this summer.
If he says yes...
that's gonna change things for you.
You wanna be varsity QB, right?
So...
when do I meet him?
Why you?
Well, I'm a really hard worker.
So what? Hard workers are a dime a dozen.
Goddamn waitress is a hard worker. Probably harder than you.
Sir, Colin's a smart kid and a top-notch athlete.
I'm asking you.
Being a quarterback, being a leader, is really important to me--
A lot of people wanna be.
Being a quarterback is all I've ever wanted my whole life.
Every time I close my eyes, I read coverages.
Every night I sleep, I dream of playing in the Super Bowl.
It's the only way I know how to operate, and the only way I want to.
Being a quarterback isn't an option for me. It's in my blood.
I'll get there one way or another.
I'll do whatever it takes to show you.
We start in June.
Every Saturday, 9:00 a.m. sharp, for eight weeks. Skyline High School.
Be warmed up and ready to go.
Yes, sir. Yes, coach. Thank you.
["How It's Done" playing over stereo]
♪ Jump in the car ♪
♪ Drive out to the country Underneath the stars... ♪
-I thought he said 9:00 a.m. -He did. Shit.
Oh, my pack.
[Rick] You better get out there.
Coach.
Kaepernick. Join that group over there.
Left.
[Colin] One of the first things I learned when I got to work with Roger Theder
was that I had a lot to learn.
Right.
What happened? Throw that with your purse?
-No, coach, I just wasn't ready. -Don't care. Get it right or get out.
You shouldn't even be with this group. You got the arms of a malnourished infant.
Go join the baby squad.
-Coach. -Baby squad. Now.
Yo.
Don't take it personally. He's just hella old school.
Trust me, someday you'll realize he's the easier version of all of this.
I just wanted him to know I'm not weak.
That's the problem. He's not worried about that.
He doesn't wanna hear shit from you. Just listen to learn. You'll get there.
[Colin] More than anything else, you gotta see every play on the field.
Randall Callaway was there. So was Don Evers and Michael Peters.
Damn it.
[groans]
So Randall's out here telling me that the QB has to shut up, listen.
QB's supposed to be a leader, right?
How am I supposed to lead if I gotta keep my mouth shut?
[Teresa] Who said this again?
Randall Callaway.
He's, like, top ten in the whole NCAA. Definitely going pro after next season.
Maybe he just means to let your play do the talking for you.
[Teresa] Maybe. Or maybe he doesn't want you to waste time
feeling sorry for yourself.
Keep your head in the game.
Yeah, maybe.
[Teresa] Oh, now, don't get up.
You need help, Mom?
I'm good.
Set, hut!
No, no, no. What'd I tell you about that coverage?
Inside out. Look inside, then outside.
Yes, sir. I just... Understood.
You wanna run routes and catch the ball, or be a QB?
-QB. -Go again.
[Colin] My mom was my mom, but she was right.
You have to know when to lead...
-Set! -...and when to follow.
Hut!
Yes, Kaepernick. By highlighting the inside receiver,
you're working against the flow of the defense.
-He's got a better shot of breaking free. -Yes, sir.
-[blows whistle] Take five. -[boy] Hike!
[Colin] Another thing I was learning, if you're going to be a quarterback,
you have to believe you're the best quarterback.
Somebody call ESPN and tell them, I'm the new prototype!
Prototype?
[Colin] Even when others don't.
When you call yourself the prototype,
you're saying you're the epitome, the perfect example of your position.
But what are the skills and attributes it takes
to be the prototypical quarterback?
Let's imagine a video game.
You get to create your version of the perfect quarterback.
You can give him any skills and attributes you want.
You're the shot caller.
We're talking height, weight, body type, arm strength, speed, quickness.
What would he look like when you're done? Probably like you, right? Makes sense.
Who wouldn't wanna create their star and leader of their team
in their own image?
Well, it's no different in real life.
More often than not, the people deciding who get to play quarterback in real life
want a quarterback who looks like them.
And because of their limited imaginations,
in a league that's over 70% Black,
less than a third of the quarterbacks are Black.
And that's an all-time high.
So, yeah, you can claim to be the prototype.
You can show the world that you should be the standard.
But until the people who are running things change their minds,
you'll be an anomaly, a freak.
A unicorn.
While their prototypes will all have at least one attribute in common.
I'm seeing some progress, but a lot of you got a ways to go.
People are not gonna give it to you, you gotta earn it. All right?
Now, get out of here. See you next week.
Colin, you're working with the big boys from now on. Be ready.
-Feels good, right? -Yeah.
All I had to do was shut up and listen. Thanks for the advice.
What you mean? I never said that.
Huh?
I didn't say nothing about no shutting up. I said listen.
Listen to what people are telling you. Learn what they're really saying.
-Dig me? -Yeah. I think so.
I watched you work your ass off and level up your game.
You're a quarterback, Colin. Never doubt that.
-[Colin] And just like that, touchdown. -Thank you.
New year. I'm still gunning for that car. You didn't forget our bet, did you?
[Rick chuckles]
-As far as I'm concerned, it still stands. -Okay. Still stands.
-Hey, coach. -Yeah, yeah.
Keep an eye on my boy.
I had him working with Roger Theder in the offseason.
-Really? -Yeah, you'll see the difference.
I'll keep an eye out.
He said he'd keep an eye on him.
Kaepernick.
Okay.
Okay. All right, knees up, boys. Come on.
-This is tryouts for varsity, not JV. -Who's that skinny kid?
Go, gentlemen.
["Seven Nation Army" playing]
Get going, get it going.
Everybody, you know the drill.
Let's hit the 50-yard line. I want Johnson, Kaepernick, up front.
-Coach Park? -Something wrong?
No. Uh, the opposite, actually.
I learned a lot from Coach Berg last year.
One thing being that there's a lot more to a QB than just throwing the ball.
-You gotta be able to command an offense. -[Berg] Exactly.
So I was wondering if instead of uncovered routes,
we do some seven on seven.
Okay. Change of plans, gentlemen. Defense, let's move!
[Colin] Quarterbacks need to prepare more than anybody else.
-[Park] Give me Blue 51, pass. -[Jordan] Blue 51.
Set, hut!
Hey, hey, 52 is the mike, 52's the mike!
Razor, razor, razor!
Set, hut!
Trey 52 Red, pass.
Red 52, set, hut!
Red 52.
Red 52, hut!
♪ Behind a cigarette... ♪
Damn it! Go to the ball!
Last one. You call it.
Bring it in, bring it in.
We're Even... Even 150 Smash.
-You sure? -Shut up, Jay.
Listen up, Doubles 119 Post Rail, Doubles 119 Post Rail on one, on one.
Tyler, get the inside release on the snap,
that way, you have leverage, and he can't get to you.
If you see that safety hang back, just cut it short,
and we'll slide right underneath it. All right?
Go ahead, Colin, with your quarterbacking ass.
-All right, here we go, boys. Ready? -[all] Break!
Set, go!
Set, set, set!
Red 7, set, hut!
[Colin] I believed I was the best QB that day.
Great job.
Get outta here! We'll see you all tomorrow.
[Colin] And I believed my competition believed it too.
Hey, Kaepernick. Nice job.
[Colin] But it turned out my competition wasn't only on the field.
I know Johnson wasn't at his best today. But he was my guy last year.
He's got the right stuff, just get him with the right receivers.
They had the same receivers.
I was talking with Kaepernick's father.
The kid spent the offseason training with Roger Theder,
and you know Theder does not take just anybody.
Do we really want a poster boy running varsity?
Or do we want a quarterback?
I guess we better head over to the car dealership, son.
Wait, really?
Are you serious? You're serious.
No, I'm not serious. [laughing]
[groans]
That's gotta be the meanest thing you've ever done to me.
You just rewarded yourself
by seeing just how much you can accomplish with hard work.
I mean, congratulations...
Quarterback.
I never doubted myself. I always knew I was a quarterback.