Earlier this week, Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh made headlines by revealing that he had extended an offer to Colin Kaepernick to join his coaching staff.
The offer sparked considerable interest, given the history between Harbaugh and Kaepernick, who played under Harbaugh’s leadership with the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2014—a period during which the team reached the NFC Championship Game three times.
“If that was ever the path he was to take, I think that would be tremendous,” Harbaugh said, as reported by USA Today. “He’d be a tremendous coach, if that’s the path he chose.”
Despite Harbaugh’s enthusiasm about the possibility of adding Kaepernick to his staff in a “non-playing capacity,” it appears that it won’t be happening for the upcoming 2024 season.
Following Thursday’s practice, Harbaugh confirmed that Kaepernick would not be joining the Chargers’ coaching ranks this fall.
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“I love Colin, but he’s not going to be on the coaching staff, which is set for this year,” Harbaugh stated, according to ESPN. “And he’s not going to be playing on the roster either.”
Kaepernick, who has been vocal about his desire to return to the NFL as a quarterback, has not yet commented on Harbaugh’s decision. Since his departure from the league in 2016, Kaepernick has consistently expressed his determination to resume his career as a player.
“We’ve just got to get one of these team owners to open up,” Kaepernick said in a previous interview. “It’s something I’ve trained my whole life for, so to be able to step back on the field would be a major moment, a major accomplishment for me. I think I could bring a lot to a team and help them win a championship.”
Despite his eagerness, the likelihood of Kaepernick securing a position on an NFL roster remains uncertain. His absence from the league for several years and the ongoing controversy surrounding his protests during the national anthem have contributed to the challenges he faces in making a comeback.
