Heidi Russo Bio- Son, Parents, Colin Kaepernick & Net Worth

Heidi Russo is popularly known as the biological mother of Colin Kaepernick, the famous NFL quarterback and ‘Linked Thru Love” co-founder, which aims at ending stereotypes associated with adoption and birth mothers. The 54-year-old Colorado resident Russo is also a certified nurse. 

Heidi Russo got pregnant with an African-American man at the age of 19, who, after finding out the news, abandoned her.

It was a tough time for Heidi to deal with the situation, after which she decided to give up her son for adoption, although her parents assured her to take care of the child.

Miraculously, this little guy turned out to be the famous NFL Quarterback. He even started the kneeling movement during the national anthem in protest of racism.

Many rebuked the young star for the action; even Heidi did not back off from slandering him in her tweets.

However, as the Black Lives Matter protests went strong worldwide, people started to appreciate his efforts and actions.

We will discuss this topic later, but let’s learn more about his birth mother, Heidi.

Quick Facts:

Who Are Colin Kaepernick’s Biological Parents?- Info On Them

Colin Kaepernick is a professional football player and a civil rights activist.

He played six seasons for the San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League(NFL) before kneeling in protest of police brutality against people of color.

Likewise, many people are aware by now that Kaepernick has two parents.

He was born to his biological mother, Heidi Russo, and his father is still unknown. Rumors were going around that James Lofton might be his dad cause they look similar.

However, the rumor is not yet confirmed whether it is true or not. Heidi was just eighteen when she got pregnant with Colin.

However, after the news, her African-American partner abandoned Heidi and their unborn baby and went stray.

Young and alone, Heidi still gave birth to Colin on November 3, 1987. Giving birth was one thing but raising one without a father was a different matter.

And the fact that her boyfriend was a black man did not settle well with her family.

Still, Heidi’s parents, James and Phyllis Zabransky, vowed to raise the child, but she refused to do so.

And in the end, they gave Colin for adoption. Similarly, Rick and Teresa Kaepernick adopted the young child as they had lost their other children to heart defects.

Even after the adoption, the two families stayed close to each other and kept exchanging messages. But it all changed once the Kaepernick family moved and lost contact with each other.

Short Bio on Heidi Russo- How Old Is She?

Heidi Russo, the biological mother of American quarterback Colin Kaepernick, is familiar with the fandom.

She was born in the year 1969 and is 54 years old as of 2024. Sadly, the exact date of her birth is unknown as of now.

Likewise, she has not let much information out in the media, including her weight and body measurements.

It seems the celebrity mom is 6 feet tall and has got an average body from the looks.

Aside from that, the American-born Russo is white regarding her ethnicity. Also, she has got short blonde hair and stunning grey eyes.

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How Did Heidi Russo Catch Media Attention?

Soon after Colin turned seven, Kaepernick’s family lost contact with Heidi. It also meant Russo had no way of knowing about her son at all.

Fast forward to the future, Russo only learned about Colin after he starred in the NFL. Heidi began contacting her son, sending messages to Colin on his Twitter, and even tweeting about him on her social media.

However, the tweet she made in 2016 got her media attention. Standing up against police brutality and racial discrimination, Colin started kneeling during the games.

Kaepernick regularly raises his voice against any racial discrimination.

While he got support from many racially suppressed people and his fellow black athletes, others still criticized his behavior. It was inevitable, considering Colin is biracial himself.

But with good things comes the bad. Among the floods of comments criticizing him for his action came the tweet from Heidi.

Like many others, she expressed her displeasure with Kaepernick.

Heidi expressed how Colin should have expressed his way in other ways rather than disrespecting the national anthem in front of thousands of people. She also advised him to be smart while dealing with these issues.

Why Doesn’t Colin Kaepernick Want to Meet His Birth Mother?

Along with the tweets, Heidi has expressed her wish to meet her son time and again. She is persistent in that part and wants to get to know her son even better.

But many people criticized Hiedi, saying that she only contacted her son to take advantage of fame. However, Hiedi denied this and said, “my family will always be family.”

The 54 years old tried to contact Colin even during his undergrad and college years.

But, Colin has yet to reciprocate her feelings. And yet Kaepernick wants nothing to do with her. His real action has been criticized by many.

But some still support his decision not to get close to his birth mother. While some children may shun their birth parents out of respect for their adoptive family, Colin did not do the same.

It is true that many adoptive children are curious about their birth parents and find their origin. However, it seems Colin has moved past this phase and is just living life with his family.

Likewise, Colin once opened up about his adoptive parents and expressed their importance to him.

He even credits them for raising him and ensures everyone at the little league games knows about his mother.

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Where Is Heidi Russo Now?- Family, Husband, and Children

After Heidi Russo gave up Colin for adoption, she went on and finished her nursing degree. Currently, she is happily married and is a mother of three of her children.

She is married to her husband, Heath Russo, about whom not much information is known.

Likewise, Heidi has not said much about their family. At the moment, they have three children together, Michael, Ethan, and Alex.

The new family is also living a blissful life in Denver, Colorado, the United States of America.

Aside from that, Russo is also a co-founder of Three Strands, a humanitarian organization that focuses on empowering birth mothers.

Moreover, she also works at ‘Linked Thru Love,’ another organization aiming to end stereotypes associated with adoption and birth mothers.

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Donald Trump Would Love to See Colin Kaepernick Back In the NFL

Amidst the protest against police brutality and racial discrimination, people from all around the globe have been walking in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Likewise, President Trump has received a lot of backlash for his actions toward the protest and for treating them differently.

In the same line, Colin, who stood against this back in 2017, was signed out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers that same year.

Moreover, Trump urged team owners to fire athletes taking part in kneeling during the anthem.

He also said he would not watch any games on Sunday until any action was taken against them.

But just this Wednesday, during a press conference, Trump said Colin Kaepernick should get another opportunity to play in NFL.

“If he deserves it, he should. If he has the playing ability,” said Trump during an interview with WJLA-TV in Washington DC.

“He started off great, and then he didn’t end up very great in terms of as a player. He was terrific in his rookie year. I think he was very good in his second year, and then something happened. So his playing wasn’t up to snuff.”

To this, Trump added, “The answer is absolutely I would. As far as kneeling, I would love to see him get another shot. But obviously, he has to be able to play well. If he can’t play well, I think it would be unfair.”

The discussions come as the state is gripped by protests surrounding the death of George Floyd under police control.

Also, Trump’s comments came after Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson urged the POTUS to reconsider kneeling.

“Well, I don’t think he has manifested as much animosity in that region lately. And I think we just continue to work with him. He’ll get there.”

Carson, the only black member of the President’s Cabinet, said during an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.

At the same time, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told ESPN Monday that he would support any team interested in signing Kaepernick.

“Well, listen, if he wants to resume his career in the NFL, then obviously it’s going to take a team to make that decision. But I welcome that, support a club making that decision, and encourage them to do that.”

Does Colin Kaepernick have a book out?

Colin, apart from NFL, is an activist, author, and co-author of multiple books such as “I Color Myself Different,” “Change The Game,” and other illustrations.

He seems to be a very thoughtful man who wants to make a positive impact on others with the aid of his writings. He makes his announcement on his Twitter handle with 2.4 million followers.

The book entitled “Change The Game” will be published in March 2023. On May 19, 2022, Colin tweeted, “I’m hoping that my story may help to empower readers to navigate better the obstacles they may face.”

Social Media Presence:

Heidi Russo is quite active on Twitter. She posts several pictures with her family and kids on her Twitter handle.

Likewise, she also tweets on several issues regarding racist hate and racism. You can follow her on Twitter via this link.

Twitter: 2.5k followers

Some FAQs:

What nationality is Heidi Russo?

Heidi belongs to American Nationality. Her parents, James and Phyllis Zabransky, were Caucasians, and she got her American status as a birthright.

Who is Heidi Russo married to?

Heidi Russo is married to Heath Russo. They have three children together, and their children are Michael, Ethan, and Alex.

Is Colin Kaepernick’s biological mother white?

Yes, Colin Kaepernick’s biological mother, Heidi Russo, belongs to the white ethnicity. However, his father was an African-American man whose name is still unknown.

What is the relationship between Heidi and Aaron Gregg?

There is no official statement between Heidi and Gregg. Aaron Gregg is a reporter with the Washington Post. He mainly focuses on corporate accountability and the intersection of business and government. 

Did Colin Kaepernick meet his birth mother, Heidi Russo?

No, Colin Kaepernick has never met his birth mother, Heidi Russo, and also says he has no desire to do so. Colin doesn’t share any bond with her now. 

Is Colin Kaepernick still married?

Heidi’s biological son, Colin, is not yet married, but he has been in a relationship with his girlfriend, Nessa Diab-an American singer, and songwriter, for over seven years.

Who Is Colin Kaepernick Biological Father?

Sadly, we have no idea about his biological father. Colin was adopted by Rick and Teresa Kaepernick when he was just a few weeks old. His adoptive parents had already lost two of their children due to a cardiac conditions. Heidi Russo, Colin’s birth mother, was 19 at the time of his birth.

How rich is Colin Kaepernick?

The NFL star has a net worth of more than $20 million and a salary of around $12.4 Million. During the 2016 season, he was paid a peak salary of $14.3 million.