Could a Jim Harbaugh and Colin Kaepernick reunion be in the works?
Harbaugh said he spoke with his former quarterback about joining his staff shortly after he was hired as the head coach for the Los Angeles Chargers in January.
Kaepernick, who played six seasons with the San Francisco 49ers including four under Harbaugh, is still hoping to resume his playing career.
“Yeah, we talked a little bit about it,” Harbaugh said Wednesday, according to USA Today. “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.”
With Harbaugh at the helm, Kaepernick took over as the 49ers starting QB in 2012 and led the team to the Super Bowl, where they lost to the Baltimore Ravens.
Kaepernick began kneeling during the national anthem in 2015 to protest police brutality and racial inequality. He was cut by San Francisco when the new management team led by coach Kyle Shanahan wanted to go in a different direction at quarterback.
Kaepernick never got another opportunity to work out for NFL teams, as he alleged he had been ostracized over his protests during the anthem the previous season. He met with the Seattle Seahawks and had informal talks with the Baltimore Ravens but never got a closer look.
He filed a grievance with the NFL in 2017 over his lack of opportunity and settled it in 2019.
Although it's been eight years since he suited up in the league, Kaepernick told Sky Sports on Monday: "We're still training, still pushing. So, hopefully. We've just got to get one of these team owners to open up."
Harbaugh left the 49ers after the 2014 campaign and coached the University of Michigan for nine seasons, capped with a national title.
He invited Kaepernick for an open workout during an intra-squad spring game at Michigan in 2022.
Harbaugh's new staff with the Chargers includes three of his former players with the 49ers: NaVorro Bowman (linebackers coach), Jonathan Goodwin (offensive assistant/quarterbacks) and Will Tukuafu (assistant defensive line coach).
-- With files from The Associated Press
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