Colin Kaepernick broke his silence on Jim Harbaugh’s claim he had extended an invite to the former quarterback this week.
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Harbaugh made a stunning revelation in the offseason when he claimed that he had offered his former player a path back to the league.
The former quarterback was said to be weighing up an offer to join Harbaugh’s Chargers – but as a coach, not a player – according to the former San Francisco 49ers boss.
The news came as a surprise to the NFL world, including the former signal caller himself.
Kaepernick revealed during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon that he wasn’t aware such an offer ever existed.
Colin Kaepernick (right) broke his silence on rumors he could return to the NFL
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh claimed he had offered Kaepernick a coaching role
‘It is 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 has not played in the NFL for eight years, since he took a knee during the national anthem and ignited nationwide controversy, if he would be open to returning to the league as a coach.
But the 36-year-old civil rights activist shut down any suggestion of swapping the field for the sidelines.
‘No interest in coaching,’ Kaepernick responded. ‘I need the adrenaline rush of playing and being in it, or I think I can have more impact in other places with my time.’
Harbaugh told USA Today in August that he had reached out to the former signal caller about a return to the league on his Chargers staff shortly after being named head coach on January 24 following his national championship win with Michigan .
Harbaugh said he had also tried to talk Kaepernick into coaching collegiate football, touching base while with the Wolverines.
The ex-QB has not played for eight years, since he took a knee during the national anthem
‘I have thought that for a long time. Just the respect that I have for the football mind he has and the football man that he is,’ said Harbaugh when asked what made him believe Kaepernick would make a good coach.
‘[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.’
Despite having not graced 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… we’ve just got to get one of these team owners to open up.’
However, some have claimed Kaepernick’s dream to play 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 appointed Harbaugh as head coach
Kaepernick joined the 49ers shortly after the team appointed Harbaugh as head coach. Together they took 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 arranging an open workout for the quarterback in 2022.
In 2019, Kaepernick settled a grievance with the NFL for an undisclosed amount after accusing owners of blackballing him in retaliation for the controversial protests.
Although Kaepernick remains an NFL outcast, 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 49ers star.
