There is a lot of speculation on whether or not San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick will return to the team in 2017. Since the bye week, the 49ers offense has improved with him under center. However, that improvement has failed to translate into a victory. At 1-10, the 49ers have endured 10 straight losses since their Week 1 victory over the Los Angeles Rams – a franchise record.
If Kaepernick does not wish to remain with the 49ers in 2017, he has the option to void the remainder of his contract and become a free agent in March. Kaepernick has not committed to the 49ers beyond this season and has had a rocky relationship with the team in recent years – particularly with general manager Trent Baalke. If Baalke were no longer with the team following this season, many within the media believe that it may open a window for Kaepernick to return in 2017 if he wishes to do so.
There are several teams that will likely be in the market for a quarterback this offseason. One of those teams might be the New York Jets. Kaepernick's girlfriend lives in New York. While a fresh start elsewhere may be tempting, Kaepernick is scheduled to make $14.5 million with the 49ers next season.
Earlier today, the Los Angeles Times reported that Kaepernick has put his four-bedroom San Jose home up for sale with the asking price of $2.9 million. He bought the 4,600-square foot home four years ago.
"As Kaepernick walked onto the University of Central Florida practice field Thursday, he was asked about his house, and rather than comment, he smiled and kept walking," Cam Inman of Bay Area News Group wrote today.
Head coach Chip Kelly met with the media today and was asked if he had spoken to Kaepernick about his future with the 49ers. "I've had zero conversations with him. I don't deal with contracts," Kelly said. "When he's with us, it's all football. If there's a business thing, that's between him, his agent and the front office. But that's not something we've ever had a discussion about."
Kelly was also asked if Kaepernick seemed more comfortable the more he plays within the 49ers' offense. "He's done a really nice job," Kelly said. "I think the Miami game was his sixth start. So, just getting comfortable with getting the game reps, that's one thing with the quarterback position you can't simulate in practice because they don't get hit in practice. So, it's really a different type of game when you get into games. But, I think as we've seen, there's progression each game with him and the more he progresses, the more comfortable he is with the offense, the more you can expand what we're doing."
"I think he's always been comfortable here," Kelly continued. "The relationship we have is great. We talk football. I really enjoy coaching him. He works extremely hard. He really wants to be great and works at it from that standpoint. All that other stuff, he does a really good job of leaving that outside the door and we never really discuss it, because that's not what our relationship is about."
On Tuesday, Kaepernick was asked about continuity between a quarterback and his head coach and his future with the 49ers. "I'm focused on Chicago this week," Kaepernick said. "I'm not thinking that far down the road. But, that's very true as far as quarterbacks being in a system that they're familiar with, they're familiar with the coach, why they're calling plays, they're on the same page so when you step on that field you know exactly why your coach is calling that play, what his intent is and what you're trying to get done."
Kaepernick has noticeably improved since over his six starts this season. "I feel like I'm trying to continually get better," he continued. "There've been games that we've played well but we haven't won and ultimately that's why we play, is to win. So, for me, there's opportunities to improve, opportunities to get better and to have more yards, more points on the board and I think that's when we'll really start thriving."