The wife of Sen. Bernie Sanders praised the San Francisco 49ers’ Colin Kaepernick for having “inspired respect” after his teammates voted to give him an award for courage at the end of a season where the quarterback made headlines for kneeling during the national anthem before games as a protest against police brutality and racial injustice.

“Thank you @Kaepernick7 You inspired respect, focused our thoughts on need 4 change thru your dignified stance/words,” Jane Sanders tweeted Friday night.