Well this certainly changes everything in the quarterback department.
It sure looked like Colin Kaepernick was out the door before the San Francisco 49ers hired Chip Kelly as their new head coach replacing Jim Tomsula after only one season. Right now nobody outside the 49ers organization knows what the plan is for Kaepernick. That might change this coming week when the 49ers hold their introductory press conference for Chip Kelly. The thought is, if Kelly speaks highly of Kaepernick he will be around next season. Currently if Kaepernick is still on the roster April 1, his $11.9 million salary for 2016 becomes fully guaranteed.
All that said about the future of Colon Kaepernick, the 49ers other quarterback Blaine Gabbert ran a system very similar while at the University of Missouri, and did so well enough to be the 10th player taken overall in the 2010 NFL draft. Maybe there will be a battle for the title of starting quarterback during the 49ers 2016 regular season.
2025 Update
The 49ers went 2-14 during the 2016 season and both Head Coach Chip Kelly and GM Trent Baalke were fired after the season.
The next stop for Kelly was back to college football where he coached the UCLA Bruins from 2018 to 2023.
On February 9, 2024 Kelly left UCLA to become the Offensive Coordinator of the Ohio State Buckeyes.
In a stunning upset on November 30th, 2024 the Michigan Wolverines beat Ohio State for the 4th consecutive time.
Many thought Kelly was out coached by Michigan defensive coordinator Wink Martindale.
With two victories in the 2024 season College Football playoffs, the Ohio State Buckeyes will face Notre Dame on Monday January 20th, 2025 in the National Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.