Jim Harbaugh confirms Colin Kaepernick will not coach, play for Chargers in 2024

On Thursday after practice, Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh confirmed that Colin Kaepernick will not coach nor play for the LA Chargers in 2024. The former Michigan skipper told reporters earlier this week that he’s made overtures to his former quarterback before about joining his staff but, alas, there are no concrete plans at the moment. Harbaugh said on Thursday that his staff for 2024 is currently full.

“I love Colin, but he’s not going to be on the coaching staff, which is set for this year. And he’s not going to be playing on the roster either,” Harbaugh said, via ESPN.

Harbaugh and Kaepernick found great success together while they were a coach-QB duo in San Francisco. Their time together convinced the national championship-winning head coach that Nevada alum could follow in his footsteps.

“I have thought that for a long time,” Harbaugh said of Kaepernick’s coaching ability. “Just the respect that I have for the football mind he has and the football man that he is. [Late 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 is something he chooses.”

Kaepernick still seeking return to NFL

Kaepernick had a 29-16 record as a starter, including the playoffs, with Harbaugh at San Francisco. He found much less success after the coach left for the Wolverines. His record without Harbaugh dropped to 3-17.

The last time Kaepernick played in an NFL game was in January 2017. He spent his entire career with the 49ers (2011-2016) and opted out of his contract before the start of the 2017 league year. During the 2016 season, Kaepernick began to kneel during the national anthem to protest police brutality in the country. He has been a free agent ever since but worked out for the Las Vegas Raiders in May 2022.

Despite not playing in almost eight years, Kaepernick has been staying game-ready, just in case. The 36-year-old QB told reporters at the Paris Olympics that he believes he still has what it takes to win games in the NFL.

“It’s something I’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,” Kaepernick said. “I think I could bring a lot to a team and help them win a championship.”