Jim Harbaugh has been offered a job coaching Colin Kaepernick with the Chargers, but the quarterback won’t be on the staff in 2024.

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:But Harbaugh told reporters Thursday that Kaepernick will not be part of the Chargers staff in 2024 as a coach or player.

“I love Colin, but he’s not going to be on my coaching staff this year, and he’s not going to be on the roster either,” Harbaugh said.

Harbaugh said he spoke to 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 reached out to Harbaugh again about the coaching opportunity, according to the report. He confirmed Thursday that the last time they spoke was in February.

Kaepernick, 36, He told Sky Sports on Tuesday: He still has a desire to play in the NFL. He hasn’t played since the 2016 season, when he began protesting racial inequality and police brutality by kneeling during the national anthem.

“We’re still training and working hard,” Kaepernick told Sky Sports. “We just need one of the owners to open the door for us.”

Kaepernick and former San Francisco 49ers teammate Eric Reid sued the NFL, accusing the league’s 32 teams of colluding to keep them out of the game after they knelt during the national anthem. They reached a legal settlement with the league in 2019.

Harbaugh was Kaepernick’s coach from 2011 to 2014 when he played for the 49ers. Kaepernick led the 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance during the 2012 season. He also threw 21 touchdown passes, a career-high, during the 2013 season.

Harbaugh and Kaepernick have remained close since they were on the same team. Harbaugh made Kaepernick an honorary captain during a Michigan spring game in March 2022. Harbaugh has been a vocal supporter of Kaepernick’s fight for social justice.

Harbaugh has hired several players from his 49ers tenure as Chargers coaches. That includes three-time Pro Bowl player NaVorro Bowman as linebackers coach, former defensive lineman Will Tukuafu as assistant defensive line coach and Super Bowl XLIV champion Jonathan Goodwin as assistant offensive line/quarterbacks coach. Three-time Pro Bowl player Delanie Walker and four-time Pro Bowl player Mike Iupati are also serving as training camp interns.

Harbaugh is set to begin his first season as the Chargers’ head coach seven months after leading Michigan to a national championship. He coached the Wolverines from 2015 to 2023 after parting ways with the 49ers following the 2014 season.

Harpo said The athleteAtlanta Hawks head coach Tim Kawakami said he’s “back to work” after winning the championship and becoming an NFL coach again.

“Now you have to do it again,” Harbaugh said. “Any job you do, it’s like digging a hole. This is the only job I can think of where you start at the top.”

Harbaugh said he is “eagerly embracing” the opportunity as he begins his coaching tenure with the Chargers. He said he “wants more” from his players as they try to improve on a 5-12 season that saw them miss out on the playoffs.

“I’m here. So this is where I stand. This is where all my focus is,” Harbaugh said.

In his first six seasons in the NFL, Kaepernick had a 28–30 record as a starter and passed for 12,271 yards and 72 touchdowns against 30 interceptions. He also rushed for 2,300 yards and 13 touchdowns during that span.

Daniel Popper of The Athletic contributed to this story.

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