Stephen A. Smith gives his verdict on Colin Kaepernick the coach after Chargers job offer - but says idea of him playing in the NFL is 's***'

By Eric Blum

Published: | Updated:

Stephen A. Smith has weighed in on Colin Kaepernick's potential shock return to the NFL at 36. 

Kaepernick has long been wanting a return to football as a player but it emerged on Wednesday that the Los Angeles Chargers have offered him the chance to join them as a coach.

Kaepernick is said to be considering the opportunity sent his way by Jim Harbaugh - and it is safe to say that ESPN analyst Smith thinks he should take it.


'If he (Harbaugh) wants to bring Colin Kaepernick there, cool. No problem. I think Colin Kaepernick would be a good coach. I think that Colin Kaepernick, if he wants the opportunity, should be the coach,' Smith said - but with a caveat.

'What I would say however is I don’t want to hear s*** about him being a quarterback. 

Colin Kaepernick was recently offered a coaching job by the Los Angeles Chargers

Colin Kaepernick was recently offered a coaching job by the Los Angeles Chargers

Smith believes any talk of Kaepernick returning to the NFL as a player needs to stop

Smith believes any talk of Kaepernick returning to the NFL as a player needs to stop

Smith continued: 'That ship should have sailed. Not only has it sailed, it should have sailed. I know some people don’t want to say it, I will.'

Kaepernick's NFL career was impeded by his stance on social justice issues. After six years with the San Francisco 49ers, he has not played in the NFL since.  

'Obviously taking a knee, bringing attention to police brutality and the uncivilized manner in which Black folks, minorities in this country have been treated by police officers and the like, he was blackballed,' Smith said of Kaepernick's NFL absence. 

'He was ostracized. We know this. Nobody’s running from that. It’s absolutely true, and the NFL owners should be ashamed of themselves,' Smith continued. 'Make no mistake about it.'

'But it’s been eight years … and if we’re going to talk about Colin Kaepernick, we need to talk about him honestly,' Smith added. 

Kaepernick's last known NFL workout was with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022. 

As teams look to find franchise cornerstones at quarterback, signing one at 36 years old is already unlikely. 

Add in the long layoff and Kaepernick's past, and it definitely appears to be a longshot he will ever play in the NFL again.   

Steve SmithLos Angeles Chargers