in 2017, John Harbaugh wanted Colin Kaepernick in Baltimore

In 2017, Giants coach John Harbaugh expressed strong interest in signing former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick after he became a free agent. Harbaugh, who was coaching at Michigan at the time, believed a team could win championships with Kaepernick, recalling his experience in Super Bowl XLVII where Kaepernick was a formidable opponent.

The primary concern at the time was Kaepernick's weekly protests during the 2016 national anthem controversy, which sparked a public backlash from some NFL fans. However, Harbaugh stated that this factor was not a driving force behind his interest in Kaepernick. Instead, he believed that the Ravens' Super Bowl MVP, Joe Flacco, would still be under contract when the signing occurred, and the organization had prior knowledge of Kaepernick's character from frequent interactions with him.

Despite these positive factors, Kaepernick's visit to Baltimore never materialized. This turn of events was reportedly due to an incident involving Kaepernick's girlfriend, Nessa Diab, who posted an image of team legend Ray Lewis and team owner Steve Bisciotti, suggesting that Bisciotti had initially resisted embracing Kaepernick.

The potential signing became complicated by the fact that Flacco was already the starter, and Kaepernick would have been the backup with a contract reflecting that role. Kaepernick himself wanted to remain a starter, which might have posed a challenge if he had accepted a secondary role with the Ravens.

Had Kaepernick joined the Ravens, it could have significantly altered the NFL landscape. The potential butterfly effect included the possibility of the Ravens not trading back to acquire two-time MVP Lamar Jackson in April 2018. Harbaugh admitted that even if Kaepernick had joined the Ravens and played well, the team might have still drafted Jackson to have two elite quarterbacks.

In 2017, the Ravens finished with a 9-7 record and missed the playoffs, with Flacco's performance being average. If Kaepernick had received a chance to play, it's uncertain whether he would have become the clear No. 1 quarterback entering 2018, potentially influencing the decision to draft Jackson.