Colin Kaepernick, the former quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, is 36 years old and eager to return to the NFL. Although he is younger than current Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who is 40, he has been out of the league for seven seasons. During a recent interview with Sky Sports at the Paris Olympics, Kaepernick expressed his commitment to staying in shape for a potential comeback, stating, “We’re still training, still pushing. So hopefully we just gotta get one of these team owners to open up.” He believes he can contribute significantly to a team’s success.
While Kaepernick is keen on resuming his playing career, there is another opportunity on the table involving coaching. Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh, who previously worked with Kaepernick in San Francisco, mentioned that they discussed the possibility of Kaepernick joining his coaching staff earlier this year. Harbaugh stated, “He’s considering it,” though they have not connected recently.
Kaepernick led the 49ers to Super Bowl XLVII after the 2012 season and reached the NFC championship the following year. His protest during the national anthem in 2016 led to him opting out of his contract with the 49ers the next year, and he has not played since. In 2017, Kaepernick filed a grievance against the NFL, which was resolved in early 2019.
Despite his ongoing interest in playing, the New York Jets did not accept his offer to join their practice squad last season after a major injury to Rodgers. Kaepernick noted that returning to the field would be a significant achievement for him, as he has trained for this moment his whole life.
He also expressed hope about potentially representing the U.S. in flag football when the sport debuts in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, stating, “Hopefully, we’ll be out there.”