Colin Kaepernick‘s attempt to return to the NFL as a player is almost definitely over. No team signed the former Super Bowl starter during the eight offseasons since his 49ers separation, with a 2022 Raiders workout potentially being the free agent quarterback’s final true tie to a team.
But Jim Harbaugh has long been a backer. The new Chargers HC coaxed by far the best football of Kaepernick’s career, moving him into the 49ers’ starting lineup in 2012 and seeing the elevation lead to a Super Bowl XLVII berth and then another journey to the NFC championship game a year later. As Michigan’s HC in 2022, Harbaugh invited Kaepernick to throw as the Wolverines convened for their spring game. With Kaepernick now 36, Harbaugh is considering him for his coaching staff.
Kaepernick coaching connections have not surfaced, though this would be an interesting way for the former starter to return to the league years after his protest against police brutality and racial inequality keyed an NFL exile. Harbaugh said he has spoken with his former charge about a coaching position.
“If that was ever the path he was to take, I think that would be tremendous,” Harbaugh said, via USA Today’s Jarrett Bell. “He’d be a tremendous coach, if that’s the path he chose. … We talked a little bit about it. He’s considering it. He was out of the country. He said he was going to get back to me. We haven’t reconnected since then. That was early, early in the year.”
This conversation took place shortly after Harbaugh was hired in January, Bell adds. The gap here would seemingly pour cold water on the prospect of Kaepernick following former teammates NaVorro Bowman, Jonathan Goodwin and Will Tukuafu onto Harbaugh’s first Chargers staff. Bowman signed on to be the Bolts’ linebackers coach.
It would not appear Kaepernick would have been brought in as QBs coach, as the Bolts made a point to rehire former Justin Herbert mentor Shane Day for that role. The 49ers’ starting center during the early part of Kaepernick’s career, Goodwin joined Harbaugh’s staff as an offensive assistant with an emphasis on QBs. That in itself is an interesting hire, as Goodwin — who last played in the NFL in 2014 — has no prior experience as an NFL assistant or full-time college staffer. It is worth wondering if this was the role Harbaugh had in mind for Kaepernick had he shown interest.
A 2011 second-round pick, Kaepernick arrived during Harbaugh’s first offseason in San Francisco and started 39 games during the HC’s time with the team. Kaepernick’s play declined post-Harbaugh, as the 49ers’ fortunes worsened. In the years since, the former dual threat has obviously been known more for his inability to return to the NFL. Last year, Kaepernick wrote a letter to Jets GM Joe Douglas about a backup gig following Aaron Rodgers‘ Achilles tear.
As of July 2023, Kaepernick was still hoping to return as a player. He appears to still be aiming for a last-ditch re-emergence, telling Sky Sports recently he is still training in hopes one of the league’s owners would sign off on an opportunity. Given how much time has passed since Kaepernick’s March 2017 49ers separation, a return seems unrealistic.
It would, of course, be interesting if Kaepernick abandoned this path and reunited with Harbaugh as a coach. Harbaugh told Bell that Kaepernick’s divisive reputation would not be an issue that impeded a Chargers hire. As of now, it does not look like anything is in motion here.