Nate Boyer's own NFL career was very briefly, featuring as an undrafted free agent for the Seattle Seahawks in 2015.
But the former United States army green beret has made a much large impact in another way.
Having first written an open letter, it was the 37 year old who inspired former San Francicso 49ers quarter back Colin Kaepernick - currently frozen out of the NFL - and others to take a knee for his anthem protests against police brutality in the US rather than sitting down.
Boyer joined us on Off The Ball to discuss his own role in an issue that has divided US citizens and also saw Kaepernick incur the wrath of Donald Trump's tweets.
But he also touched on whether he and Kaepernick have remained in contact beyond their early interactions.
"We spoke throughout the rest of that season, so really all of 2016 and '17 of our football season and we haven't really spoken since," he said.
"And I have reached out through his team, through his camp or whatever you want to call it. I've gotten responses that 'yes, Colin does really look up to you and he respects you and he talks about you all the time'. All this stuff. But I haven't talked to him personally in quite a long time. And then communication just seems to fizzle."
But Boyer added that Kaepernick has now become an "icon" and "receiving awards all over the world".
However, overall in regard to his own place within the narrative, "it makes sense but it is a little bit frustrating, I'm not going to lie".
"Because I feel like I was an important part of this whole story."
When asked if he feels used by the situation, Boyer responded: "I don't feel used by it. I just feel forgotten".
