The NFL’s most famous unemployed quarterback is under consideration for a prestigious award.

Colin Kaepernick, who took his last snap with the 49ers nearly 13 months ago, is one of five finalists for the NFLPA’s Byron “Whizzer” White Community MVP award. Kaepernick is making good on his 2016 pledge to donate $1 million to organizations in oppressed communities. This month, he is finishing his pledge and athletes such as Serena Williams, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry have made matching $10,000 donations to various organizations.

The other finalists for the NFLPA award are Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton, Eagles defensive end Chris Long, Broncos linebacker Von Miller and Texans defensive lineman J.J. Watt. Dalton’s foundation benefits seriously ill and handicapped children; Long donated his 2017 salary to fund various initiatives at his high school in Charlottesville, Va.; Miller provides eyeglass frames to low-income children in Denver and Watt spearheaded an effort that raised $37 million in Hurricane Harvey relief.

A year after he began kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial inequality, Kaepernick made just one free-agent visit — to the Seahawks — before he spent the 2017 season out of the NFL. In October, he filed a grievance against NFL owners for collusion.

Despite not playing, Kaepernick was honored for his community involvement last year.

In November, he was named GQ’s “Citizen of the Year.” In December, he received Sports Illustrated’s Muhammad Ali Legacy Award.

"With or without the NFL's platform, I will continue to work for the people,” Kaepernick said when accepting SI’s award. “Because my platform is the people.”

Kaepernick, who was recognized by the NFLPA for his community service in September, is eligible for its year-end award because he remains represented by the union.

A free agent such as Kaepernick has never won the NFLPA’s award, which was established in 1967. Wide receiver Anquan Boldin became the 49ers’ lone winner in 2014. Niners general manager John Lynch received the award when he was playing with the Broncos in 2007.

Twitter: @Eric_Branch