Still, the 36-year-old continues to train for an NFL tryout to play quarterback for the first time since being effectively blackballed from the league in 2016 following public protests against racial injustice and police brutality.
Despite Harbaugh's attempted rekindling, sports media personality Dan Le Batard was outwardly critical of the NFL during the "Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz" on August 15.
"I'm not forgiving on this one," Le Batard said on air. "A coaching job? Like, no. That's not quite enough. That's not reparations.
"Outside of putting him in a uniform and allowing him to play the position, what you've done is simply unforgivable. It doesn't matter whether your commissioner apologizes for it. It doesn't matter if you give him a coaching job. You ended the prime of this man's career at the most valuable position."
He added, "It can't be forgiven unless he's allowed a chance back to get at that position. There are no moves that are going to impress me here that aren't going to feel like PR."
The former second-round pick started 39 regular season games under Harbaugh and the duo posted a 4-2 record in the playoffs. That included a 2013 Super Bowl loss against Jim's brother John and the Baltimore Ravens.
Despite how things have played out since 2016, Kaepernick and Harbaugh have had a positive relationship in the public eye.
In April 2022, during his University of Michigan coaching tenure, Harbaugh notably allowed Kaepernick to stage an on-field workout for NFL teams during the school's spring game.
When asked in January 2024 about his thoughts on Harbaugh returning to coach in the NFL, Kaepernick also told USA Today's Mike Freeman via DM , "Harbaugh is the one coach you call when you want to compete for a championship. Period.”
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