Harbaugh offers Kaepernick coaching job with Chargers

August 15, 2024

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Harbaugh offers Kaepernick coaching job with Chargers

Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh offered former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick a coaching job with the team in January, he told USA Today’s Jarrett Bell last week. Harbaugh said he spoke with Kaepernick after he was hired as the Chargers’ head coach about the possibility of Kaepernick joining the team in a coaching role, USA Today reported Wednesday. Harbaugh also said nothing has changed since that conversation and that Kaepernick has not contacted Harbaugh again about the coaching opportunity, the report said.

Kaepernick, 36, told Sky Sports on Tuesday that he still has a desire to play in the NFL. He hasn’t played since the 2016 season, when he began protesting racial inequality and police brutality by kneeling during the national anthem.

“We’re still training, we’re still pushing,” Kaepernick told Sky Sports. “We just need one of these team owners to open up.”

Kaepernick and former San Francisco 49ers teammate Eric Reid sued the NFL, accusing the league’s 32 teams of conspiring to ban them from the sport after they kneeled during the national anthems. They reached a legal settlement with the league in 2019.

Harbaugh coached Kaepernick from 2011 to 2014 when he played for the 49ers. Kaepernick led the 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance during the 2012 season. He threw a career-high 21 touchdown passes during the 2013 season.

Harbaugh and Kaepernick have remained close since they were on the same team. Harbaugh named Kaepernick an honorary captain during a Michigan spring game in March 2022. Harbaugh has publicly supported Kaepernick in his fight for social justice.

Harbaugh has hired several players he coached with the Chargers during his time with the 49ers. This includes three-time Pro Bowler NaVorro Bowman as linebackers coach, former fullback/defensive lineman Will Tukuafu as assistant defensive line coach and Super Bowl XLIV champion Jonathan Goodwin as assistant offense/quarterbacks coach. Three-time Pro Bowler Delanie Walker and four-time Pro Bowler Mike Iupati are interns for the training camp.

Harbaugh is set to begin his first season as Chargers head coach, seven months after leading Michigan to a national championship. He coached the Wolverines from 2015-2023 after retiring from the 49ers following the 2014 season.

Harbaugh said The AthleticsTim Kawakami says that after winning the championship and becoming an NFL coach again, he’s “right back at it.”

“Now you have to do it again,” Harbaugh said. “Every job you do is like digging a hole. That’s the only job I can think of where you start at the top.”

Harbaugh said he is “attacking” the opportunity with “enthusiasm” as he begins his coaching tenure with the Chargers. He said he wants “more” from his players as they try to improve after a 5-12 season that left them missing the playoffs.

“I’m here. So this is where my feet are. And this is where all my focus is,” Harbaugh said.

In his first six NFL seasons, Kaepernick went 28-30 as a starter, passing for 12,271 yards and 72 touchdowns against 30 interceptions. He also rushed for 2,300 yards and 13 scores during that span.