Jim Harbaugh confirms Colin Kaepernick NFL comeback decision as he hails "football mind"

Jim Harbaugh has poured cold water on suggestions that Colin Kaepernick could return to the NFL as a player or a coach with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Kaepernick has been out of the league since 2017, after he started protesting against social injustice and police brutality by kneeling for the national anthem before games. The 36-year-old has repeatedly stated his desire to return to the NFL in the years since, but an opportunity on a roster has not materialised.

Harbaugh revealed earlier this week he had held tentative talks with Kaepernick about a coaching role with the Chargers when the former Michigan head coach landed the job earlier this year. But Kaepernick will have to wait a little longer for his opportunity.

"I love Colin, but he's not going to be on the coaching staff, which is set for this year. And he's not going to be playing on the roster either," Harbaugh said after practice on Thursday. He added that he believes Kaepernick has the attributes required to be an excellent coach.

"I have thought that for a long time," Harbaugh continued. "Just the respect that I have for the football mind he has and the football man that he is. [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."

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Kaepernick was a second-round pick out of Nevada in 2011 and he sensationally rose to prominence late in his second season with the Niners, replacing former No. 1 overall pick Alex Smith midway through the season and leading the team to the Super Bowl, where they lost to the Baltimore Ravens.

A 12-4 season followed in 2013, with Kaepernick a symbol for the evolution of the quarterback position, offering a dual threat in Harbaugh's offense as a passer and a runner. He had a 29-16 record in San Francisco when Harbaugh was his head coach, but his performances declined dramatically when Harbaugh returned to his alma mater Michigan, going 3-17 before finding himself out of the league.

Unable to find a new team, Kaepernick filed a grievance against the NFL accusing owners of colluding together to keep him out of the league. He later withdrew the grievance and he reached a settlement with the NFL.

Kaepernick told British-based Sky Sports News during a visit to the Paris Olympics that he continues to work towards returning to the league as a player. He said: "It's something I've trained my whole life for, so to be able to step back on the field, I think that would be a major moment, a major accomplishment for me. I think I could bring a lot to a team and help them win a championship."