The workout was moved to a high school football field in the area, and the media was allowed to observe, record, and report.
Instead of trying to figure out what the NFL had planned for the initial session, Kaepernick brought his own receivers to the new location, showed off his arm strength, and even impressed one NFL executive.
We'll see if the workout was enough to land the 32-year-old quarterback on an NFL squad. It would be a surprise if he landed with the 49ers, the team that made him a second-round draft pick in 2011. San Francisco has repeatedly expressed confidence in its quarterbacks, Jimmy Garoppolo, Nick Mullens, and C.J. Beathard.
Kaepernick spent six seasons in the NFL, all with San Francisco, but last played during the 2016 season. His name dominated headlines that final season as he kneeled during the national anthem in protest of social injustice — a demonstration that is believed to have contributed to his continued unemployment from football.
Kaepernick had a conversation with the 49ers after the hiring of general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan, and was told he would be released if he did not opt out of the final year his contract. The quarterback was not seen as a fit in Shanahan's offensive scheme, and he opted out of his deal on March 3, 2017, becoming a free agent.
The cost of his contract had a lot to do with his departure from the 49ers, too.
"I think we both agreed that under the current construct, it wasn't going to work out," Lynch said at the NFL Scouting Combine in 2017.
Kaepernick completed 59.8 percent of his passes for 12,271 yards with 72 touchdowns and 30 interceptions in his five NFL seasons.
H/t to Alex Didion of NBC Sports Bay Area for the twitter finds.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers climb in power rankings after defense-heavy draft haul
NFL.com's Eric Edholm released his post-draft power rankings, offering insight into where each team stands after adding their latest rookie classes. At the top of the list are the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, whose draft haul once again earned Edholm's praise. The... -
49ers Draft Night Vibes at Levi's Stadium
This past Thursday, I had the chance to soak in the electric atmosphere at Levi's Stadium for the 49ers' Draft Party. From the gold-blooded diehards to the next generation of the Faithful, there was plenty of buzz about who the 49ers would select with the 11th overall pick. As... -
Chris Simms: 'I thought the San Francisco 49ers absolutely crushed the draft'
Some "experts" weren't impressed with the San Francisco 49ers' approach in the 2025 NFL Draft. Both Pro Football Focus and Sports Illustrated gave the team a disappointing "D" grade, clearly underwhelmed by the 49ers' 11-player draft haul. But not everyone shared that opinion.... -
John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan discuss the 49ers drafting Mykel Williams; Williams speaks to reporters
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan spoke to reporters after selecting Georgia defensive end Mykel Williams with the 11th overall pick. Additionally, Williams spoke to reporters via Zoom. Here is everything they said. Transcripts...