Dawg Pound Daily
FanSided

Hue Jackson Wanted Colin Kaepernick on the Cleveland Browns

By Nick Pedone

SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 1: Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers fires the team up on the field prior to the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi Stadium on January 1, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers 25-23. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 1: Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers fires the team up on the field prior to the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi Stadium on January 1, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers 25-23. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Back in 2017, Hue Jackson wanted to add Colin Kaepernick to the Cleveland Browns

In a 2017 quarterback room featuring DeShone Kizer, Cody Kessler and Kevin Hogan, former Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson wanted to give free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick a chance.

Prior to the 2017 NFL season, Kaepernick opted out of his contract with the San Fransisco 49ers, the team where he played all six of his professional NFL seasons, making him a free agent.

Coach Jackson joined ESPN Cleveland’s Tony Rizzo and Aaron Goldhammer on Friday afternoon’s Really Big Show, where Kaepernick was brought up in light of the recent comments made by Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio, who said racism doesn’t exist in the NFL.

More from Dawg Pound Daily

Jackson tip-toed around the optics of the Browns signing Kaepernick back in 2017, and would not completely pull behind the curtain on how close the signing was. He also said he didn’t think any possible signings were menaced by former general manager Sashi Brown or the ownership.

"“I wanted him,” Jackson said of Kaepernick. “I don’t know how close it was, but it wasn’t nixed from the beginning.”"

Jackson went onto explain how he was familiar with Kaepernick from his head coaching tenure with the Oakland Raiders, who explored drafting the University of Nevada product.

In fact, Jackson is on the record with Sports Illustrated saying that he wanted to draft him in 2011. Jackson made it sound like he genuinely wanted Kaepernick in a Browns uniform. He definitely kicked the tires of the possibility.

However, throughout the entire interview, Jackson continually reminded Rizzo and Goldhammer that the coaching staff wasn’t the group making decisions when it came to personnel choices. Additionally, Jackson was supposed to run the drills at Kaepernick’s much-publicized and anticipated NFL workout.

Jackson didn’t move locations with Kaepernick as he felt as if he had an obligation to the NFL, as they asked him to participate. Jackson also admitted that he felt incredibly desperate throughout the infamous 1-31 stretch. He was willing to try anything on the field to help the Browns win.

Certainly, Jackson was willing to bring in the extremely controversial quarterback who appeared in the Super Bowl just four seasons prior. Perhaps the 54 year-old free agent coach will discuss it more in his upcoming, unnamed book, which he soundlessly teased on ESPN Cleveland’s airwaves.

"“I think everybody is seeing exactly what he was telling people,” Jackson said of Kaepernick. “The first step for Colin playing again, is him wanting to play. If he actually wanted to play, he would have a job.”"

dark. Next. 3 Bold predictions for Browns offense

It’s hard to argue that Kaepernick wouldn’t have been the team’s best option had Jackson and the Browns brought him onboard in 2017.

Home/Browns News