Chip Kelly’s Hiring Saves Colin Kaepernick’s Career In San Francisco

The San Francisco 49ers were a few small (but distinct) steps away from being a dumpster fire this season. I guess scratching five wins out against very mediocre teams counts for something, but it was pretty brutal no matter which way you look at it.

One of, if not the most, brutal parts of this season was Colin Kaepernick, who didn’t get much done on the field and looked the part of a guy who knew he was on his way out. That was, however, until the 49ers went and hired Chip Kelly as their new head coach. With Kelly in town, I’d be willing to bet that Kaepernick’s career in San Francisco just had the reset button hit on it.

The two big factors that will keep Kaepernick as their starting quarterback are all falling into alignment. First, Kelly will probably work his magic with Kaepernick and his athletic abilities. Maybe on other teams with better offensive talent, Kelly might want more of a Tom Brady-like passer who’s quick and accurate instead of fast and shifty. But with the state of the 49ers’ playmakers out there, Kelly may have no choice but to unleash Kaepernick on the ground as well as through the air. I can’t imagine he’d prefer Blaine Gabbert over him, not when Kaepernick showed what he could do with the option to run.

Remember, this is the same Kaepernick who helped take this team to a Super Bowl. As long as Kelly is willing to base his offense around a running quarterback, Gabbert won’t be tempting enough for him to roll with. Kelly has to make the most out of what he has right now, and Kaepernick is that. He did that exact same thing with Michael Vick.

Secondly, Kaepernick is already signed to a long-term deal. And with the cap numbers being so team-friendly, the 49ers could now justify keeping him while restocking the roster. This was a team that once had a beastly defense that vanished almost in thin air. They’ve got enough reason to check “quarterback” off their needs list for right now, and hope Kelly can diagram Kaepernick into a more consistent threat. Meanwhile, the 49ers can go try and replace the likes of Patrick Willis and Aldon Smith.

It’s pretty questionable whether or not San Francisco made a smart hire here. After watching Kelly unfold in Philadelphia, maybe he did learn enough to not recreate history with his new team. But in the meantime, Kaepernick may have just had another year or two added onto his career in California. I’m sure he wouldn’t hate that in the least.