In a bit of a surprise on Monday, Nike and Colin Kaepernick announced that the former 49ers quarterback would be one of the faces of the company's 30th anniversary "Just do it" campaign.

The news has drawn support and criticism from both sides.

A day later, the NFL's Executive Vice President of Communication and Public Affairs, Jocelyn Moore, issued a statement on behalf of the league.

The NFL has released a statement on social justice, saying the issues that Colin Kaepernick and others have raised deserve attention and action. pic.twitter.com/QfmEUkXdjT

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 4, 2018

[RELATED: Colin Kaepernick ad a litmus test of Nike's true intentions]