Colin Kaepernick took a knee, and by 2017, he was out of the league. Ever since that National Anthem moment, NFL owners have kept their doors shut to the former quarterback. But through it all, one person stood by his side without fail, his wife, Nessa Diab. And wait… according to Diab, who became a mom in 2022, there was someone else quietly showing up for Kaepernick during his lowest moments.

Colin Kaepernick’s wife shared a story on her official Instagram account. In the featured picture, the ex-49ers quarterback is seen along with his wife posing with Gino Fisanotti. For context, Fisanotti has been with Nike since 1996 and is currently the Chief Brand Officer for Moncler. In addition, the man also supported Kaepernick when the football world was turning its back on him. That’s what Nessa Diab revealed in her Instagram story.

Sharing the picture, Kaepernick’s wife wrote a caption thanking Fisanotti for being with her husband. She wrote: “Meet @gfisan who fought MANY battles to champion @kaepernick7 when everyone counted Colin out – Gino showed up!!!! Thank GOD for the people who PROTECT you when you aren’t in the room and put it all on the line. THANK YOU GOD!”

It all blew up back in 2017 when many big names stood against kneeling players during the anthem, wanting the owners should fire them on the spot. That moment poured gasoline on an already burning fire. Team owners quickly reacted, demanding all players stand during the anthem. Meanwhile, free agent Colin Kaepernick, left without a team, filed a grievance, claiming the league had blackballed him. However, later, Nike stepped in boldly and unapologetically.

Yes! Fisanotti was the one who supported Kaepernick by featuring him in Nike’s “Just Do It” 2018 advertising campaign. He gave him the platform to voice his love for sports and community at the same time. In that campaign, they dropped a black-and-white ad with his face and the words, “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.” That hit deep.

Announcing the campaign, Fisanotti also highlighted, “We believe Colin is one of the most inspirational athletes of this generation, who has leveraged the power of sport to help move the world forward. We wanted to energise its meaning and introduce ‘Just Do It’ to a new generation of athletes.” Well, it’s true!

Some people were indeed inspired, comparing him to legends like Muhammad Ali and Jesse Owens. However, others went the opposite way – burning shoes, trashing Nike, launching hashtags like #BoycottNike. But the fact is, Nike didn’t crumble, as the sales soon climbed. So, that’s obvious for the Kaepernick couple to show some love and respect for the man, that too, on a very special occasion.

Colin Kaepernick and his wife rocked the Met Gala red carpet!

Despite the NFL fallout, Colin Kaepernick still holds the power to turn heads wherever he goes. This time, he made a serious statement off the field and onto the Met Gala carpet. On Monday night, the former Nevada Wolf Pack star turned heads in a deep burgundy three-piece suit with a cape, nodding more to his 49ers past than his college days. Sharing the details of the chosen outfit on his Instagram post, he wrote. “I wore a custom Ozwald Boateng suit designed in collaboration with Edward Enninful and Moncler.” That’s why Kaepernick and his wife, Nessa Diab, got an opportunity to meet Gino Fisanotti, the Moncler’s Chief Brand Officer. But this wasn’t just fashion, it was a purpose.

The 2025 Met Gala theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” spotlighted how Black identity, migration, and style are deeply connected. And for Kaepernick, ah, it’s his favorite topic to chime in. But besides this, he and his wife kept their lives’ other chapter open, too.

Before their grand entrance, they shared their excitement in a chat with Vogue. Nessa smiled and said, “It’s game time, baby! This might be our first official time stepping out like this, and also just being parents.” The couple, who became parents in 2022, embraced the moment with pride. Diab even called Kaepernick “the most amazing dad” and opened up about her own journey after childbirth. She said, “As a mom, it’s not just making sure I look good on the outside—it’s also feeling amazing on the inside….So mom and dad are stepping out on the red carpet, and we celebrate each other and we encourage each other, and hopefully you get to see that when you see us tonight.”

Since 2015, Colin Kaepernick and his wife, Nessa Diab, have stood side by side. They co-founded the Know Your Rights Camp and launched Ra Vision Media to uplift voices that often go unheard. So, that’s why Monday night wasn’t just a fashion moment for them, it was a celebration of love, identity, and purpose.