Jim Harbaugh taking Chargers job could be Colin Kaepernick’s ticket back to NFL

With Jim Harbaugh becoming the new head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, it could mean former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick will be back on an NFL sideline, but probably not in the capacity many expect.

Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio recently suggested now that Harbaugh is in L.A., a reunion with Kaepernick could be on the table, but perhaps in an assistant coaching role.

Florio pointed out that Harbaugh wanted to bring Kaepernick on staff as a quarterbacks coach two seasons ago when he was in discussions to become the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings.

Harbaugh’s unwavering support of the 36-year-old QB isn’t new. Three years ago, the coach was advocating for a team to take a chance on the former second-round pick, who threw for 8,415 yards, 50 touchdowns and 21 interceptions with a 25-14 record as the 49ers starter from 2011 to 2014 under Harbaugh when he was attempting one of his many NFL comebacks.

“My personal opinion and really advice to NFL teams is, there’s only one way to answer these questions, one way to find out, and that’s Colin signs somewhere,” Harbaugh said at the time, via PFT. “My advice is he’d be worth your time and that NFL team will be very happy…Colin Kaepernick is a friend, he’s a brother, he’s a great teammate. I love Colin. I think he’s an unbelievably talented football player.”

Likewise, Kaepernick gave Harbaugh his vote of support in early January — just four days after Harbaugh led the Michigan Wolverines to their first national title since 1997 — when it was being debated whether or not the 60-year-old coach would leave the college ranks to go back to the NFL.

“Harbaugh is the one coach you call when you want to compete for a championship,” Kaepernick told USA Today on Jan. 12. “Period.”

While it’s not known if Kaepernick has any interest in swapping a helmet for a headset, as long as Harbaugh is running the show with the Chargers, the possibility is always there that Kaepernick could eventually be back in the NFL.