A Kaepernicking craze has hit football fans and social media after the San Francisco 49ers quarterback’s touchdown celebration caught on with fans.
In the team’s 45-31 win over the Green Bay Packers, quarterback Colin Kaepernick celebrated a touchdown by flexing his right arm and kissing his bicep, setting off what would be known in social media as a Kaepernicking craze. San Francisco fans adopted the pose, taking pictures of themselves in bars, at home, and even at work doing the Kaepernick pose, The Associated Press noted.
The Kaepernicking craze is reminiscent of the Tebowing pose made popular by another unlikely quarterback. Like Tim Tebow, Colin Kaepernick started his breakout season as a backup, but the 49ers quarterback replaced the injured Alex Smith and never looked back, leading his team to a second consecutive NFC title game.
Tebowing faded this year as the quarterback languished on the bench for the New York Jets, and his career trajectory is now in jeopardy after the Jacksonville Jaguars said they are no longer interested taking the quarterback after his expected release from the Jets.
Kaepernick, on the other hand, appears to be on the rise. His dangerous running ability and strong arm have made him a nightmare matchup for opposing defenses and his team is now one win from the Super Bowl.
Kaepernick, a second year player, said he isn’t feeling the pressure despite the fans expectations and 49ers stellar season.
“It is not pressure unless you are not prepared,” he told former Super Bowl MVP Kurt Warner in an exclusive interview . “I feel like I was prepared to step in and prepared to play. At that point it is about going out and performing well.”
But even the quarterback himself has not been immune to the Kaepernicking craze. He has retweeted and posted pictures of fans doing his trademark pose.