Eight years after they last worked together as head coach and starting quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, Jim Harbaugh and Colin Kaepernick are having a reunion of sorts.
Harbaugh’s Michigan Wolverines will have their Maize and Blue Spring Game on Saturday, April 2. Michigan announced on Wednesday that Kaepernick will be an honorary captain.
Football Family.
Excited to share the field with our honorary captain for Saturday's Maize and Blue Spring Game, @Kaepernick7 #GoBlue 〽 pic.twitter.com/2H6Yj2Ivwl
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) March 30, 2022
If we’ve learned anything over the last six years, it’s that there are very few neutral opinions on Kaepernick. This news was no different.
Some college football fans on Twitter are dead set against the Wolverines honoring the former 49ers signal-caller.
Colin Kaepernick compared police officers to slave catchers, praised a murderous communist dictator, wore socks depicting police officers as pigs and refused to stand for the anthem.
In the eyes of Michigan football, he's a hero. Disgusting. https://t.co/GTtR9qsrTN
— David Hookstead (@dhookstead) March 31, 2022
Corny. https://t.co/57E52dKBhX
— Eric Bandazewski 🥃 (@EricTWBB) March 31, 2022
What a massive L. The fact that this man has any respect left in the football community is beyond me https://t.co/F5u07ToHXz
— Ben Morrissey 🇺🇸 (@BenMorrissey16) March 31, 2022
Generally speaking, though, the reaction to the news was positive. Even non-Michigan fans weighed in with their support of the decision.
Welcome to Ann Arbor, @Kaepernick7. We appreciate your courage and sacrifices to help our country live up to our promise of equal justice under law. https://t.co/J8PPv9SHvj
— Barb McQuade (@BarbMcQuade) March 31, 2022
Hell yeah!! #GoBlue My Coach > Yours https://t.co/pkkfSQTPWw
— tabs 🇺🇦 (@TabsGoBlue) March 31, 2022
@NexJql And this is why The University of Michigan is my favorite school ever. #GoBlue 〽️💛💙 https://t.co/2AkqmM5rXl
— Aaron, fan of the 43x Big Ten Champs, Wolverines! (@LittleAaron4eva) March 31, 2022
I'm an OSU girl through & through…
But this time I'm definitely all about the Blue!!! https://t.co/EQmw87EQ1O
— Skittles Is Standing With Ukraine 🇺🇦🌻 (@Skittles_Is6) March 31, 2022
#GoBlue #ProBlue Anyone who doesn’t think this is strategically brilliant for recruiting isn’t paying attention. https://t.co/piHvq5NeeF
— 💯〽️💙 4 Ever (@mdecan) March 31, 2022
I love this. Anyone who's ever met Colin Kaepernick knows his heart. He's a good dude and whatever he said to the team was positive. https://t.co/z7e4pLlhQR
— Trevor Woods (@WoodsFootball) March 31, 2022
Kaepernick and Harbaugh were together with the 49ers from 2011-2014. After playing sparingly in his rookie year, Kaepernick became the starting quarterback in San Francisco midway through the 2012 season. That year ended with a loss in Super Bowl XLVII to the Baltimore Ravens.
Harbaugh left the 49ers following the 2014 season. Kaepernick remained in San Francisco through the 2016 season. During the 2016 season, he became politically outspoken, highlighted by his decision to first sit, and then kneel during the national anthem. While the 49ers struggled to a 2-14 record that year, including a 1-10 record in his starts, Kaepernick threw 16 touchdowns with only four interceptions. Despite that, he hasn’t played since that season.
Kaepernick has continued to remain in the news, though, with a recent workout with Tyler Lockett catching the attention of many fans.