49ers coach Kyle Shanahan says the team has not discussed bringing back Colin Kaepernick (Twitter link via Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com). Shanahan added that the team discussed signing Kaepernick last year, but determined that he was not the right fit for their offense. 
After Jimmy Garoppolo‘s season-ending ACL tear, the 49ers are looking into backup quarterback options. Kaepernick represents a viable starter in a sea of clipboard holders, but he is not in consideration for San Francisco. Kaepernick may not be an ideal fit for the offense, but the national controversy surrounding him may also be playing a role here.
Kaepernick, 31 in November, has spent his entire NFL career to date with the 49ers. From 2011-2016, he went 28-30 in his starts, though he did take the team to the Super Bowl following the 2012 season and the NFC championship game following the 2013 campaign. Kaepernick’s last start came in January of 2017 as the 49ers closed out a trying season with a loss to the Seahawks.
Just go away and do another Nike commercial Colin
All of this discussion about Kaepernick being a viable starter is getting ridiculous. Taking the 49ers as an example because you used it – he has a totally different skill set than Garoppolo or even Beathard. If you view the real NFL in the way many do the Madden video game, I could see how he’d be a “better” fit, as his skills running the ball are far better than any QB on the current roster. But in terms of team and scheme fit? He would most likely be terrible in this offense. It’s time to quit tacitly encouraging the idea that some kind of collusion is going on. Nothing we have seen to this point lends any support to that idea.
Zach Links is Kaepernick’s biggest cheerleader. Almost like has an agenda
I’m not a frequent reader of the NFL rumors site until fantasy football starts, but it sure seems like I have seen a Kaepernick mention nearly every time almost any team makes a change at the quarterback position. I am just curious as to why this seems to be a dead horse that still needs beating.
They’re just hoping the guy that opted out of his contract and turned down deals wouldn’t need a lawsuit verdict to determine his fate…
I think the fact that the lawsuit is still ongoing means that collusion hasn’t been proven or disproven yet. Nothing we have seen to this point lends any support to the idea that collusion DIDN’T happen. So we’re all speculating at this point and your opinion is that there was no collusion. I happen to believe there was but neither of us will be right until this whole saga is over.
This isn’t a “fact finding” mission that will lead to a report, this is a lawsuit. The burden of proof is on Kaepernick to prove that collusion has taken place between NFL owners and execs to keep him from being able to sign with a team. This is a high bar to clear, and there has been no indication whatsoever that there has been any progress made to that end. I have a feeling that no matter the outcome, people who share your opinion will still insist that the alleged collusion took place even in the absence of any evidence. I have no idea if people would collude to keep him out, but keeping in mind that Nike signed him to a huge endorsement deal, it would seem to me that people who are motivated by making money would be very interested in signing him if there was the possibility that he could contribute on the field. At this point, evidence taken from comments made by coaches and execs as well as evidence from his last year in the NFL would seem to support the idea that teams feel he can’t provide enough value to warrant a roster spot. The pull to win and make money in professional sports is so strong that I cannot imagine that so many rational businessmen would turn away potential income because of a protest.
No collusion took place. It’s just that no owner wants the controversy surrounding Kaepernick when there are other players of similar quality available.
If they haven’t discussed it, why even bring it up?
Because Zach likes to ride Kaepernick’s jock. It’s a non topic yet he brings it up. They haven’t contacted Cutler either yet no article. Alnost like it’s an agenda
Because a reporter asked Kyle Shanahan if they would consider Kaepernick at QB to replace Jimmy G who went down with an ACL tear, which is a valid question given that Kaepernick is a former 49er. And then this website reports stuff that reporters report so that’s why, in a nutshell. I know your question was rhetorical, but it was dumb and there’s your logical answer for it. If you don’t like hearing about Colin Kaepernick, stop clicking on these articles and stop commenting about it.
Why Zach do you insist on writing articles about this guy. There’s not one good comment it’s going to come out of this and all this is going to do is cause a political discussion that’s going to turn bad.
To reply to my own comment. IF Colin wanted to be playing, he would be.
What he said…
Exactly! If he wanted to be playing any type of football at all, he could go to the CFL to try
and get his credibility back. Even Johnny Football is playing in Canada
and we all know what a major f–k up he is.
It’s not like Zach asked Shanahan that question personally. And honestly if you go on Bleacher Report or anywhere else for Kaepernick news, there is no comment section. They prohibit people from even saying anything about it. This is a way better forum in the sense that people can actually have a discussion. It often turns into name calling and vitriol but would you rather be able to talk about it or would you rather be censored?
He will be brought up any time a team needs a starter or back up. You’d think by now it would just go away but it hasn’t. As a 9ers fan I was a huge fan of this guy when he burst into the scene but I watched the league adjust to him and him not adjust to those adjustments. He couldn’t throw a lob pass, couldn’t hit that corner of the end zone pass that good QB’s can do, he got cracked a few times and was afraid of running after that because he got paid and didn’t want to jeopardize his career by taking a huge hit so he’d throw the ball when he should’ve scrambled and took a lot of sacks for a “mobile” QB. I was sick and tired of watching him by the end of his time in SF. I supported what he was trying to do with his whole kneeling thing although I didn’t agree with how he was doing but as far as play was going he just wasn’t good. Does he have talent? Yes. But there are plenty of talented guys not in the league because they can’t put it all together.
Well said!
“Viable starter”? Any Niners fan who watched the last few years he was on the team would beg to differ. Viable starters don’t lose their job to Blaine Gabbert. Viable starters can read defenses and throw touch passes. Viable starters don’t abandon the pocket on 90% of the snaps. Honestly, Kap should have put his skill set to better use and transitioned to wide receiver years ago. He could have been a beast.
Cut the hate and bring him in for a tryout and make a decision on his ability to play the position at a level comparable for the NFL.
Common now … you reinstated a person who demonstrated cruelty to animals, elected criminals to the hall of fame and continue to have players on roster who think it is OK to hit women but you won’t give a tryout to someone whose “crime” was he exercised his Constitutional right to protest.
Here comes the political nonsense straight from nickelodeon.com.
Or rhetoric from another of the “right turn only” crowd
Your Prius is done charging. Go take a drive buddy
Actually I drive a Tesla – by the way, your bus is running late
Read the comments above, bringing in Kaep is more trouble than he’s worth mainly because he’s not that good. I have not missed a 49er game in the last 10 years. I used to be a fan of his, I even still have his jersey in my closet. When defenses adjusted to him he was pedestrian at best. Why bring in a guy who doesn’t help you that much and potentially alienates part of your fan base? How is that good for the 49ers?
They reinstated a guy that was cruel to animals so he could take a 3rd string spot and then progress through as he had proven himself worthy…your guy opted out of his contract and refused offers to be a #2….