A 2018 advertisement featuring former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick was bestowed with an Emmy Award on Sunday night for Outstanding Commercial.
The commercial, "Dream Crazy," beat out commercials for Macbook, iPhone, Netflix and Sandy Hook Promise.
Sunday's win marked the first time since 2002 that Nike has won for Outstanding Commercial, and third time overall.
"For 30 years, the 'Just Do It' mantra has been a motivational call for athletes nationwide, across all sports, and all levels of play. To celebrate that rich diversity, the second film in the JDI series, 'Dream Crazy,' focuses on a collection of stories that represent athletes who are household names and those who should be. The common denominator: All leverage the power of sport to move the world forward," Nike said about the release of the advertisement.
“Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything," Kapernick says as the camera turns to his face in the commercial.
The advertisement aired while Kaepernick was in a lawsuit with the NFL as part of a collusion case brought against the league. He alleged that the league conspired against him to keep him from joining a team after he chose to kneel during pregame national anthem ceremonies in 2016.
Kaepernick said that he kneeled during the national anthem to draw attention to racial injustice and racial bias in policing. His actions, however, have drawn widespread criticism, including from President Donald Trump.
In February, the NFL settled with Kaepernick and agreed to pay an estimated $10 million. Kaepernick has not played in the NFL since 2016.
