Former NFL quarterback turned full-time activist Colin Kaepernick appears to be getting a real-world lesson in the old adage “go woke, go broke.” New reports reveal that Kaepernick has unloaded his New York City luxury condo for significantly less than what he paid for it nearly a decade ago—another reminder that political grandstanding doesn’t always age well, financially or professionally.
According to New York Post reporter Jennifer Gould, Kaepernick purchased the upscale Manhattan condo in 2016 for $3.21 million—just before he launched the protest movement that would derail his football career and polarize the country. The condo was officially listed for sale in 2024 with an ambitious asking price of $3.45 million. But reality soon set in. By late 2025, the price had been slashed to $2.99 million, signaling trouble in paradise.
While the exact final sale price has not yet been publicly disclosed, it’s clear the former San Francisco 49ers backup quarterback did not walk away with a profit. In fact, after factoring in taxes, fees, and years of ownership costs, it’s likely Kaepernick took a notable financial hit.
The 1,733-square-foot condo—designed by architect Enrique Norton—features three bedrooms, a spacious foyer, a combined dining and living area, and a chef’s kitchen outfitted with sleek glass cabinetry. The primary bedroom includes a full bathroom and custom closets, while residents also enjoy access to a heated rooftop pool. The sale even includes a coveted parking spot in the building’s fully automated garage, reportedly valued at $250,000.
Despite the luxury touches, the property was described as being in “immaculate condition,” suggesting Kaepernick and his wife, left-wing media personality and activist Nessa Diab, barely lived there. Perhaps New York City wasn’t quite the sanctuary they imagined.
Before Kaepernick’s ownership, the condo passed through the hands of NHL player Derick Brassard, rapper Nas, and writer Emily Stone—owners whose careers didn’t hinge on antagonizing half the country. Kaepernick, on the other hand, effectively ended his NFL prospects after choosing to kneel during the National Anthem, a move many Americans viewed as disrespectful to the flag, the military, and the country that gave him fame and fortune.
Kaepernick spent six seasons with the 49ers and reached Super Bowl XLVII in 2013, where the team lost to the Baltimore Ravens. Soon after his activism ramped up, he became a free agent—and never returned to the league. While he has repeatedly claimed he was “blacklisted,” he quietly settled with the NFL in 2019, a fact often glossed over by sympathetic media outlets.
Now 36, Kaepernick insists he still trains daily and claims he’s ready to return to professional football at a moment’s notice—despite being nearly a decade removed from meaningful game action. In the meantime, he’s dabbled in side projects like publishing a children’s book and giving activist speeches, none of which have brought him back under center.
“You chase that. You pursue it,” Kaepernick said recently of his NFL dreams, insisting he’ll “never not be ready.”
But with a stalled football career, a shrinking real estate portfolio, and dwindling cultural relevance, the former quarterback’s story increasingly looks less like a heroic stand—and more like a cautionary tale about mixing sports, politics, and privilege.
