Colin Kaepernick made a visit to the 49ers’ Santa Clara headquarters on Wednesday, to meet with new general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan for the first time.
Lynch joined KNBR’s Fitz and Brooks after the meeting, and said that Kaepernick left excited.
“I would characterize it as just a really positive discussion,” Lynch said. “I do think that there are some things that are sacred. We did have a great discussion and I think Colin left excited and we left excited.”
“And I think as Kyle and I believe, the evaluation process is still very much fluid. We’ve only been on the job a couple of weeks and I can tell you we both very much enjoyed being around Colin, and he seems like he’s a real good place.”
Lynch said Kaepernick reached out to him shortly after he was hired as GM on February 9, and that the two had plans to meet soon.
“Colin reached out and we plan on visiting,” general manager John Lynch said at his introductory press confrerence. “In order to find out what you need you first have to really take inventory of what you have.
“We’ll sit down with him and if we see fit that he’s a part of it we’ll commit to that. If not, we’ll figure things out.”
Lynch said he was impressed with Kaepernick when he interacted with him during production meetings during his tenure with Fox Sports.
“I’d say we hit it off,” Lynch said. “I think there was a trust there, and I think that trust extends and I was thrilled when he reached out and I’m looking forward to talking with him.”
Both Lynch and Shanahan wouldn’t rule out the return of Kaepernick in 2017, amidst reports that the quarterback will opt out of his contract come early March. Under his current deal, in which both the team and player can opt out, he would be owed $14.5 million for next season.
“Colin, like any other player, is someone I’m going to be watching a lot of tape on the next few weeks,” Shanahan said during the same presser. “Before we can look at anything you have to know who the players on your team are.
“People have won in this league being pure throwers, making every throw in the pocket,” Shanahan said. “People have won in this league making plays with their legs. There have been tall quarterbacks who have made it, there have been short quarterbacks who have made it. There’s lots of ways to do it.”
Kaepernick had his best season in three years under Chip Kelly in 2016, despite posting a 1-10 record as a starter. Kaepernick threw 16 touchdown passes and just four interceptions and had a passer rating of 90.7. He also rushed for 468 yards and a career-best 6.8-yards per carry, the best amongst NFL quarterbacks in 2016.