Colin Kaepernick's story would be unbelievable if it wasn't true. It's the type of rags-to-stardom tale the Internet loves.
When he was in fourth grade in the foothills town of Turlock, Kaepernick wrote in a letter that he hoped to grow up to play for the San Francisco 49ers or the Green Bay Packers. That letter was published by a local newspaper in 2010, when Kaepernick was a star QB at the University of Nevada. It has spread online since Kaepernick was drafted by the 49ers in 2011 and as he has led the team to the playoffs this year.
Got to admit that letter is soo cute #kaepernick
— Adrianna Medrano (@_ItsAdrianna) December 17, 2012
Does Colin Kaepernick have any stock tips? Check out the letter he wrote himself in fourth grade. twitpic.com/bmu11e
— Bryan Armen Graham (@BryanAGraham) December 17, 2012
On Saturday, Kaepernick ran for a quarterback playoff-record 181 yards to lead the 49ers to a 45-31 win over the Packers and earn the team a spot in the NFC Championship. After running for a TD in the first quarter Kaepernick flexed in the end zone, creating at least a temporarily iconic image that's earning him a growing amount of notice online.
They're (meaning "The Internet") calling the pose "Kaepernicking," a term that's a take-off on then-Denver Broncos QB Tim Tebow's "Tebowing." Kaepernick's performance on Saturday also has made him the subject of other memes; below is a look at Kaepernicking and some of the other images we've seen so far. We'll update this post with other photos and Tweets as we see them today.