No NFL teams have called former San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh to get his opinion on his old quarterback Colin Kaepernick. But if they do, Harbaugh is ready to give his word on Kaepernick.
"Anybody that talks to me is going to get a great recommendation that's going to knock their socks off," Harbaugh told Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.
Harbaugh chose Kaepernick in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft -- his first year as San Francisco's head coach -- and then named him the team's starter halfway through the 2012 season over Alex Smith.
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Even though Harbaugh is now at the University of Michigan, the two still stay in touch.
"That doesn't end because you're not on the same team. That's a trusting, lasting friendship that will always be there," Harbaugh said during Super Bowl week.
Kaepernick has been involved with multiple trade talks this offseason. The 49ers have spoken with the Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos and New York Jets, according to sources. But, a deal is far from being completed.
“We’re nowhere near getting anything done at this point," 49ers GM Trent Baalke said.
Kaepernick is currently rehabbing from surgeries to his left shoulder, right thumb and left knee in Vail, Colorado. He visited the 49ers’ facility in Santa Clara on Friday for a checkup – not a full physical, according to the team.
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This is certainly not the first time the quarterback has dealt with injuries. He has played through them both in college at the University of Nevada-Reno and with the 49ers.
"He's as tough as nails," Harbaugh said to the Bee on his former quarterback. "That's a badge of honor in a lot of ways."
If Kaepernick does stay with the 49ers, he will be competing to be behind center in Chip Kelly's uptempo offense. Along with Kaepernick, the 49ers also have Blaine Gabbert, Thaddeus Lewis and Dylan Thompson as quarterbacks on their roster. Kelly is staying away from the business of the Kaepernick situation, but has had nothing but praise for him.
“I’d love to have him,” Kelly said at Stanford’s pro day. “I’m a big Kap fan.”
The 49ers' voluntary offseason program is scheduled to begin on April 4. Kaepernick has a scheduled $400,000 workout bonus for 90-percent attendance in the program.
