The Los Angeles Post
U.S. World Business Lifestyle
Today: April 07, 2025
Today: April 07, 2025

Colin Kaepernick has potential option to return to NFL as a coach, according to LA Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh

Colin Kaepernick has potential option to return to NFL as a coach, according to LA Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh
August 15, 2024
Ben Church - CNN

(CNN) โ€” Colin Kaepernick might have an option to get back into the NFL, but not as a player this time.

In an interview with USA TODAY, Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said he was keen for Kaepernick to join the team in a coaching capacity one day.

โ€œIf that was ever the path he was to take, I think that would be tremendous,โ€ Harbaugh said. โ€œHeโ€™d be a tremendous coach, if thatโ€™s the path he chose.โ€

Speaking to the outlet following a training camp practice last week, Harbaugh said he had contacted his former quarterback earlier in the year but that nothing had yet come of the conversation.

โ€œHeโ€™s considering it,โ€ Harbaugh added. โ€œHe was out of the country. He said he was going to get back to me. We havenโ€™t reconnected since then. That was early, early in the year.โ€

CNN has reached out to Harbaugh via the Chargers for comment.

Kaepernick has not played in the NFL since 2016, after he sparked controversy by sitting, then kneeling, during the National Anthem before several games to protest the police shootings of Black men and other social injustices faced by the Black community.

In March 2017, he opted out of his 49ers contract and became a free agent. No NFL team signed him. In October 2017, he filed his grievance case against the NFL, alleging that teams were colluding to deny him a job.

The quarterback settled a collusion grievance case against the NFL, along with his former 49ers teammate Eric Reid, in 2019.

Kaepernick and Harbaugh had previously enjoyed success during their time with the 49ers together, reaching the Super Bowl in 2013 โ€“ narrowly losing out to the Baltimore Ravens.

โ€œHeโ€™s one of my favorite players that Iโ€™ve ever coached,โ€ Harbaugh added. โ€œLove Colin.โ€

Playing hopes

While the door might be open for Kaepernick to return as a coach, the 36-year-old recently told Sky Sports that he still holds hopes of playing in the NFL again.

โ€œWeโ€™re still training, still pushing,โ€ Kaepernick told Sky Sports News earlier this month. โ€œSo hopefully. Weโ€™ve just got to get one of these team owners to open up.

โ€œItโ€™s something Iโ€™ve trained my whole life for, so to be able to step back on the field, I think that 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.โ€

The-CNN-Wire
โ„ข & ยฉ 2024 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

Related Articles

Cleveland Browns co-owner Jimmy Haslam calls controversial acquisition of Deshaun Watson a โ€˜big swing and missโ€™ Browns owner Jimmy Haslam admits team 'took a big swing and miss' in trading for Deshaun Watson Twin Cities hockey coach recovers from severe traumatic brain injury Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is talking to Aaron Rodgers, but he's comfortable starting Mason Rudolph
Share This

Popular

Business|News

Amazon makes a last-minute bid to buy TikTok as deadline looms

Amazon makes a last-minute bid to buy TikTok as deadline looms
Lifestyle|Local|News|WrittenByLAPost

โ€œNurse Hailey,โ€ nursing influencer, passes away in childbirth after amniotic fluid embolism

โ€œNurse Hailey,โ€ nursing influencer, passes away in childbirth after amniotic fluid embolism
Political|News

Trump's 25% tariff on imported cars raises concerns industry leaders

Trump's 25% tariff on imported cars raises concerns industry leaders
Political|Local|News

Palmdale deputy announces bid for L.A. County Sheriff

Palmdale deputy announces bid for L.A. County Sheriff

Sports

Celebrity|Europe|Political|Sports|World

Vladimir Putin congratulates Alex Ovechkin on โ€˜outstandingโ€™ NHL goals record

Vladimir Putin congratulates Alex Ovechkin on โ€˜outstandingโ€™ NHL goals record
Asia|Sports

McLaren can be beaten, but Verstappen must be perfect: 5 takeaways from F1โ€™s Japanese Grand Prix

McLaren can be beaten, but Verstappen must be perfect: 5 takeaways from F1โ€™s Japanese Grand Prix
Sports

Women's college basketball looking for next star with no Paige Bueckers and JuJu Watkins injured

Women's college basketball looking for next star with no Paige Bueckers and JuJu Watkins injured
Sports

Great starting pitching stretches not enough for the White Sox and Reds early this season

Great starting pitching stretches not enough for the White Sox and Reds early this season

Access this article for free.

Already have an account? Sign In