The Muhammad Ali Center has announced it will present its Humanitarian of the Year Award to former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick later this year, citing his advocacy against racial injustice and his work supporting underserved communities. The award, named after boxing legend Muhammad Ali, has drawn criticism from commentators who argue Kaepernick's activism does not compare to the sacrifices Ali made when he was stripped of his heavyweight title and banned from boxing for refusing military induction during the Vietnam War.

The centre said Kaepernick was chosen for his philanthropic efforts, including his Know Your Rights Camp initiative, with Lonnie Ali, the late Muhammad Ali's widow and centre co-founder, praising him for advocating "equality, human dignity, and social change" at personal and professional cost. Critics counter that Kaepernick's NFL career was already declining before his anthem protests began, and that he received significant commercial backing, including a major Nike campaign, rather than facing the isolation Ali endured. Kaepernick is also expected to use the award to promote his forthcoming book, "The Perilous Fight."