Former Chargers All-Pro and sacks leader in the NFL, Shawne Merriman, has slammed rumors that Colin Kaepernick could be joining Jim Harbaugh’s coaching staff. The rumors have been circulating since Harbaugh was named the new head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, mostly amongst sports talking heads infatuated with the social justice warrior.
Merriman believes Kaepernick being named to the staff would be a “slap in the face” to those who worked hard to succeed in the coaching ranks the right way.
The connection between Harbaugh and Colin Kaepernick is undeniable, as they both worked together during their time with the San Francisco 49ers. Kaepernick led the 49ers to the Super Bowl in 2013 where they lost to the Baltimore Ravens 34-31.
Some insiders have suggested that Kaepernick could join the Chargers coaching staff, as Harbaugh has previously expressed interest in bringing him on as a quarterbacks coach (More NFL Rumors).
One of those insiders is Mike Florio at NBC’s ProFootballTalk blog who cites the pair’s former San Francisco connection and Kaepernick’s participation in the Wolverines Spring Game a season ago.
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Florio had previously speculated that Harbaugh was considering bringing Colin Kaepernick on as a quarterbacks coach when he was rumored to be pondering the Minnesota Vikings head coaching job.
Merriman, a former NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and member of the San Diego Chargers 50th Anniversary Team, believes these Chargers rumors are an all-around bad idea.
“Absolutely not. And I think it would be a horrible decision,” he told Fox News. “You got a lot of people out there putting in the time, putting in the effort and is waiting in line for those jobs and more qualified for those jobs.”
“And to jump over everybody else who spent their time, energy, still in line and work their way up, would just be a slap in the face to everyone that’s been committed to raising the bar.”
Super Bowl champion Burgess Owens has slammed the NFL for courting anti-police activist Colin Kaepernick as the organization slowly transformed itself from an athletic league to a social justice network.
Owens, like Merriman, has previously said bringing Kaepernick into the fold would steal a spot another player or coach would be deserving of. He called it “Affirmative Action for a Marxist.”
Neither Harbaugh nor Kaepernick have perpetuated these rumors and have not commented on whether or not the former NFL quarterback is even being considered as an addition to the staff.
The Chargers finished 5-12 this past season.
