"I think it's going to be Blaine Gabbert by default." answered McGinest when asked which quarterback had the advantage in San Francisco. "Colin Kaepernick has not been able to be full speed in the offseason, hasn't really thrown the football. So you said, 'Going into camp' – it's going to be Blaine Gabbert to start until Colin Kaepernick get's healthy."
"Now I do think that this offense suits Colin Kaepernick better for what Chip Kelly is trying to do," continued McGinest. "With his athleticism, with his arm, throwing the ball down the field – something that fits him perfectly once the season gets started."
That would be one vote for Kaepernick. What did Wilcots have to say on the matter?
"You know Willie, you can't coach courage," said Wilcots. "Blaine Gabbert – at times – been a little skittish in the pocket. So I gotta go with Colin Kaepernick because I do believe that Colin Kaepernick has the skillsets, I think to lead a football team. Now there's been times, of course, when he has struggled, where things have broken down around him, where the team hasn't had the structure, but we've seen him play at a high level. We've seen him take a team to the Super Bowl. And so I think he can be the guy to get it done over Blaine Gabbert."
That would be two votes for Kaepernick.
"I think once the season starts, [Kaepernick] will be the starter, but we're just saying 'Going into camp,'" emphasized McGinest. "'Til he heals up."
"If he's not the starter, certainly this is going to be his last year in San Francisco so his career could head in a totally different direction," added host Dan Hellie.
You can watch the entire segment below with the discussion about the 49ers kicking off at about the 1:14 mark.
►
Top quarterback competitions heading into camp
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers' Week 16 opponent loses starting quarterback
The Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Indianapolis Colts 36-19 on Sunday, further dimming Indy's playoff hopes. A significant setback compounded the loss—quarterback Daniel Jones is out for the season after suffering a torn Achilles during the Week 14 defeat. Jones had... -
49ers GM says starting safety Ji'Ayir Brown making "game-changing plays"
His career has been up and down so far, but third-year safety Ji'Ayir Brown is beginning to play with more consistency. And he's making an impact on the San Francisco 49ers' injury-plagued defense. Coming off his best game as a pro, in which he had two interceptions against the... -
49ers dominate Browns 26-8: Key stats and standout performances from Week 13 win
The San Francisco 49ers improved to 9-4 on the season after a 26-8 Week 13 win over the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio. Below are several statistics and notes from Sunday's game, which were provided by the 49ers Communications staff. With The... -
49ers thrilled to finally reach long-awaited Week 14 bye after crucial win over Browns
The San Francisco 49ers have finally reached their long-awaited bye week—a break that felt like it might never arrive. After grinding through an injury-plagued 2025 campaign and securing a crucial 26-8 win against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field, the 49ers can...