Report: Jim Harbaugh offered Colin Kaepernick a coaching job with the Chargers in January

Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh offered former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick a coaching job within 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 as a coach, USA Today reported Wednesday. Harbaugh also said nothing has changed since that conversation and Kaepernick has not contacted Harbaugh again about the coaching opportunity, according to the report.

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 discrimination and police brutality by kneeling during the national anthem.

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

Kaepernick and his former San Francisco 49ers teammate Eric Reid sued the NFL, accusing the league's 32 teams of colluding to ban them from the sport after they kneeled during the national anthem. They reached a 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 in the 2012 season. He threw a career-high 21 touchdown passes in 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 publicly supports Kaepernick's fight for social justice.

Harbaugh hired several players from his time with the 49ers to coach the Chargers. They include 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 coaching interns for training camp.

Harbaugh is just beginning his first season as head coach of the Chargers, seven months after leading Michigan to the national championship.

He coached the Wolverines from 2015 to 2023 after parting ways with the 49ers following the 2014 season.

Harbaugh said The athleteTim Kawakami said that after winning the championship, he would be “right back in the game” and would return to work as an NFL coach.

“Now you have to do it again,” Harbaugh said. “Every job you do is like digging a hole. This is 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 look to improve after a 5-12 season in which they missed the playoffs.

“I'm here. So here are my feet. And here is my whole focus,” Harbaugh said.

In his first six NFL seasons as a starter, Kaepernick went 28-30 and threw for 12,271 yards and 72 touchdowns with 30 interceptions. He also ran for 2,300 yards and 13 touchdowns.