Sports
Harbaugh offered Kaepernick coaching job with Chargers
Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh offered former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick a coaching job within the team in January, he told USA Today’s Jarrett Bell last week. But Harbaugh told reporters Thursday that Kaepernick won’t be a part of the Chargers staff in 2024 as a coach or player.
“I love Colin, but he’s not going to be on the coaching staff I set for this year, and he’s not going to be playing on the roster either,” Harbaugh said.
Harbaugh said he spoke to Kaepernick after getting hired as the Chargers head coach about the possibility of Kaepernick joining the team in a coaching capacity, USA Today reported Wednesday. Harbaugh also said nothing has changed since that conversation and Kaepernick hasn’t reconnected with Harbaugh about the coaching opportunity, according to the report. He confirmed Thursday that the last time the two spoke was February.
Kaepernick, 36, told Sky Sports on Tuesday that he still has a desire to play in the NFL. He hasn’t played since the 2016 season when he began to protest racial inequality and police brutality by kneeling during the national anthem.
“We’re still training, still pushing,” Kaepernick told Sky Sports. “We just need one of these team owners to open up.”
Kaepernick and former San Francisco 49ers teammate Eric Reid sued the NFL, accusing the league’s 32 teams of colluding to keep them out of the sport after kneeling during the anthems. They reached a legal settlement with the league in 2019.
Harbaugh coached Kaepernick from 2011 to 2014 when he played for the 49ers. Kaepernick led the 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance during the 2012 season. He threw a career-high 21 touchdown passes during the 2013 season.
Harbaugh and Kaepernick remained close since being on the same team. Harbaugh made Kaepernick an honorary captain during a Michigan spring game in March 2022. Harbaugh has been publicly supportive of Kaepernick’s fight for social justice.
Harbaugh hired several players from his time with the 49ers as coaches with the Chargers. This includes three-time Pro Bowler NaVorro Bowman as linebackers coach, former fullback/defensive lineman Will Tukuafu as assistant defensive line coach and Super Bowl XLIV champion Jonathan Goodwin as assistant offense/quarterbacks coach. Three-time Pro Bowler Delanie Walker and four-time Pro Bowler Mike Iupati are coaching interns for training camp.
Harbaugh is about to begin his first season as Chargers head coach seven months after leading Michigan to a national championship. He coached the Wolverines from 2015 to 2023 after parting ways with the 49ers following the 2014 season.
Harbaugh told The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami that he’s “right back at it” following the championship win and becoming an NFL coach again.
“Now you got to do it again,” Harbaugh said. “Any job you do, it’d be like digging a hole. That’s the only job I can think of where you start on top.”
Harbaugh said he’s “attacking” the opportunity with “enthusiasm” as he begins his coaching tenure with the Chargers. He said he “wants more” from his players as they try to improve on a 5-12 season in which they missed the playoffs.
“I am here. So this is where my feet are. And this is where all my focus is,” Harbaugh said.
In his first six NFL seasons, Kaepernick compiled a 28-30 record as a starter and passed for 12,271 yards and 72 touchdowns against 30 interceptions. He also rushed for 2,300 yards and 13 scores during that stretch.
The Athletic’s Daniel Popper contributed to this story.
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Former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko, who won a national championship with LSU in 2020, announced his retirement on Friday at age 29.
Fehoko, who began his NFL career as an undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2020, made the announcement on Instagram.
Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko (96) reacts after the game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Jan. 1, 2023. (Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports)
“Sometimes in life you just get a sense of fulfillment & for me it’s now. 29 years old and I couldn’t be happier with the journey of where this game has taken me,” his post read.
“To my family you guys never let me quit and more importantly never let me stop believing in myself. I’m thankful for every coach, teammate, trainer, opponent, agent, etc. because you guys made me a better version of myself every time I stepped on that football field.”
Fehoko played two seasons at Texas Tech before joining former LSU head coach Ed Orgeron in the SEC for two seasons, culminating in a national championship with the Tigers in 2020. He finished his collegiate career with 71 tackles and four sacks across 48 games.
Breiden Fehoko (96) of the Los Angeles Chargers tackles Derrick Henry (22) of the Tennessee Titans in the third quarter of the game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Dec. 18, 2022. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
A journeyman, Fehoko signed with the Chargers in 2020 after going undrafted that year. He made his NFL debut that season in a Week 12 game against the Buffalo Bills.
NFL STAR XAVIEN HOWARD ABRUPTLY RETIRES AFTER 4 GAMES WITH COLTS
Fehoko appeared in 19 games for the Chargers, registering 36 tackles across three seasons.
He signed with the Steelers in 2023, but never appeared in any games. He signed with the team in August but was later released before the start of the season.
Breiden Fehoko (96) of the Pittsburgh Steelers lines up during the second half of a preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Aug. 24, 2023. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
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“I’m not a fan of long novels but I’m glad to say I’m retiring from this great sport of football,” Fehoko post read. “I’m so blessed to have a head start in life & I look forward to my next chapter with my family. I’ll miss the team dinners, bus rides, training camps, and everything in between. I won’t miss conditioning.”
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The Haim family is on the verge of celebrating another City Section championship while playing for El Camino Real.
Last season, All-City infielder Juju Haim helped the baseball team win the City Section Open Division title at Dodger Stadium.
On Saturday, his sister, Talya, will try to quarterback El Camino Real’s flag football team to a City Division I title. The Royals face Carson at 5 p.m. at Garfield.
There are four games at Garfield. Here’s the link to the finals schedule.
Talya is a junior who has been the starting shortstop for the softball team since her freshman year. She picked up flag football quickly, becoming an accurate passer and mobile quarterback. She has 40 touchdown passes this season.
Carson will present a severe challenge with a pair of talented sophomore quarterbacks in Sa’niya King and Soriyah Maulupe.
Talya is hoping to earn some bragging rights from big brother and add her own ring.
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.
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The James Franklin effect is already taking shape.
Franklin was fired from Penn State last month after a dreadful start proved to be the last straw, given his lack of success against top 10 teams throughout his tenure. But, last week, Virginia Tech officially hired him to lead its football program, and he is already apparently making his mark.
According to Rivals, five Penn State commits have taken, or are set to take, official visits to Franklin’s new school.
Virginia Tech head coach James Franklin speaks during a news conference at Cassell Coliseum. (Brian Bishop/Imagn Images)
Offensive linemen Benjamin Eziuka and Roseby Lubintus both told the outlet they would be making visits, as did the father of four-star quarterback Troy Huhn.
Franklin was fired by Penn State after the Nittany Lions’ loss to Northwestern, the program’s third straight defeat and another shocking result after a loss to UCLA the previous week. The Nittany Lions are 4-6 on the season and 1-6 in Big Ten play.
It’s been a lackluster few seasons for Virginia Tech under head coach Brent Pry and his predecessor, Justin Fuente. However, Franklin’s adaptive approach to the modern college football landscape could turn things around quickly in Blacksburg.
L-R, John Rocovich, Timothy Sands, James Franklin and Whit Babcock hold up a Virginia Tech jersey during a news conference announcing Franklin as head coach at Cassell Coliseum. (Brian Bishop/Imagn Images)
SHILO SANDERS SUED BY LAW FIRM FOR NOT PAYING OVER $164,000 IN OWED PAYMENTS
Franklin will be the most accomplished head coach for the program since Frank Beamer retired in 2015 after 29 seasons leading the Hokies. Franklin, who coached at Vanderbilt before joining Penn State, went 128-60 over his 15 seasons as a head coach.
Despite this season’s struggles, Franklin was coming off a 2024 campaign that included a College Football Playoff semifinal appearance and a 2016 Big Ten championship.
“I can’t wait. … I’ve been watching that intro to college football my entire life,” Franklin said in his opening news conference. “It’s something special.
Virginia Tech football coach James Franklin and wife Fumi enter a press conference where he is introduced as head coach at Cassell Coliseum. (Brian Bishop/Imagn Images)
“We were a drive away from playing in the national championship, so I know what it looks like,” Franklin added.
Fox News’ Scott Thompson contributed to this report.
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