Since the San Francisco 49ers hired Chip Kelly as their head coach, the team has appeared united in wanting to keep quarterback Colin Kaepernick. At his first NFL owners' meeting with his new team, Kelly reiterated what he has said all along: that he wants to coach Kaepernick.
But unlike his job in Philadelphia, Kelly does not have any say in the player personnel department, though the 49ers seem to share their new coach's point of view. Kelly acknowledged he has not been allowed to talk Xs-and-Os with Kapernick but said he did convey that he wanted the QB around for next season.
"Have I done any selling? No," Kelly said. "It has just been talking to him. I don't think there's a sell part. No. 1 I can't talk offensively with him: 'I think this is a good fit because of this, this and this' because we're not allowed to do that. But I did make him understand that just because there is a business side doesn't mean we don't want him here. I really would love to work with him, and I think he understands that."
49ers general manager Trent Baalke recently said he is "nowhere near" trading Kaepernick, though he confirmed the team is allowing him to explore possible trades on his own. Regardless, Baalke does not anticipate cutting Kaepernick and fully expects the QB to report to camp April 4 after his $12 million salary becomes guaranteed on April 1. With that said, the 49ers have positioned themselves to either keep Kaepernick or trade him, since his contract now appears to be on the low-end for starting QBs.
Though Kelly was not given player personnel authority, it appears he will have the final say about what the 49ers do with Kaepernick. Given Kelly's comments, his offensive scheme and perceived QB expertise, it appears Kaepernick would have a legitimate shot at starting at QB for the 49ers next season.
Meanwhile, Jim Harbaugh is challenging Kelly to be Kaepernick's No. 1 fan. Harbaugh, the former coach of the 49ers whose offense Kaepernick thrived in, said he would give a glowing recommendation to anyone who asked him for one.
"Anybody that talks to me is going to get a great recommendation that's going to knock their socks off," he said. "He's as tough as nails.
"That's a badge of honor in a lot of ways."
