Colin Kaepernick broke his silence on Jim Harbaugh’s claim that he had extended an invitation to the former quarterback this week.
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Harbaugh made a surprising revelation in the offseason when he claimed he had offered his former player a path back into the league.
The former quarterback was said to be weighing an offer to join Harbaugh’s Chargers, but as a coach, not a player, according to the former San Francisco 49ers boss.
The news was a surprise to the NFL world, including the former communicator himself.
Kaepernick revealed during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon that he didn’t know such an offer ever existed.
Colin Kaepernick (right) broke his silence on rumors that he could return to the NFL
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh claimed he had offered Kaepernick a coaching position
“It’s not true,” Kaepernick told Fallon. ‘I found out the same way everyone else did: on social media. I was like, ‘Oh, I got a coaching offer.’ No, no coaching offer.
The late show host went on to ask Kaepernick, who hasn’t played in the NFL for eight years, since kneeling during the national anthem and sparking a national controversy, if he would be willing to return to the league as a coach.
But the 36-year-old civil rights activist rejected any suggestion of swapping the field for banking.
“I have no interest in coaching,” Kaepernick responded. “I need the adrenaline of playing and being in it, or I think I can have more of an impact elsewhere with my time.”
Harbaugh told USA Today in August that he had contacted the former signal-caller about a return to the league on his Chargers staff shortly after being named head coach on Jan. 24 following his national championship victory with Michigan. .
Harbaugh said he had also tried to convince Kaepernick to coach college football, touching base while he was with the Wolverines.
The former QB has not played for eight years, since he knelt during the national anthem
‘I’ve thought about it for a long time. Just the respect I have for the football mentality that he has and the football man that he is,” Harbaugh said when asked what made him believe Kaepernick would be a good coach.
‘(Last Raiders owner) Al Davis saw something in me that made him think I would be a good coach, and I see those same qualities in Colin. If it’s something he chooses.
Despite not having appeared on the field since January 1, 2017, Kaepernick has remained determined to rejoin the league, with the quarterback telling Sky Sports: “We’re still training, still pushing… just “We have to get one of these teams.” owners open up.’
However, some have claimed that Kaepernick’s dream of playing in the league again is unrealistic, with one NFL insider telling DailyMail.com that the quarterback is “delusional.”
Kaepernick joined the 49ers shortly after the team named Harbaugh head coach.
Kaepernick joined the 49ers shortly after the team named Harbaugh head coach. Together they led San Francisco to Super Bowl XLVII and the NFC Championship Game the following season.
Harbaugh has supported Kaepernick during his apparent exile from the NFL, even hosting an open workout for the quarterback in 2022.
In 2019, Kaepernick settled a complaint with the NFL for an undisclosed amount after accusing owners of blackmailing him in retaliation for controversial protests.
Although Kaepernick remains an NFL pariah, commissioner Roger Goodell admitted in June 2021 that the league should have listened to players’ concerns about racism sooner, adding that he encouraged teams to sign the former NFL star. 49ers.