Kelly has supported Kaepernick and his position throughout the season and called the cause of the quarterback's protest "heinous." He was asked what his reaction is to Kaepernick's compliments regarding Kelly's support. "I think the comment was very self-explanatory," Kelly said. "There's people that are dying senselessly – both police officers and citizens of this country – and if you don't see that, then I think you're either blind or ignorant.
"I mean, there's a huge issue going on in this country and I don't think anybody can say that they think it's ok. I don't think you're going to get that from anybody and that's just what I meant. There's a lot of senseless things going on in this nation that need to be addressed. So I support his take on that."
"I've had conversations with Kap," Kelly continued. "I know he's got a lot going on on his plate and I think part of that is making sure that he understands that people do support him in terms of where he is and what he stands for and what the things are. I think sometimes he's very misunderstood. I think people's reaction toward what he's trying to do is very misunderstood. But I think Colin has a clear heart and a clear vision of what he's trying to get accomplished and I support that."
It was announced on Tuesday that Kaepernick would become the team's new starting quarterback, in time to face the Buffalo Bills this weekend. On Wednesday, Kaepernick signed a restructured deal that eliminates the future guarantees in salary should the quarterback suffer a serious injury.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers Named As Potential Trade Destination for All-Pro DE Trey Hendrickson
As higher-profile contract talks continue between the San Francisco 49ers and quarterback Brock Purdy, the team is still putting in plenty of time looking at ways to upgrade their defensive line, which (like the rest of the 49ers' defensive unit) struggled mightily in... -
Projection of Early Return of 49ers' Brandon Aiyuk Continues to Gain Traction
The big story of the 2024 pre-season in San Francisco was the long, arduous contract negotiation involving 49ers' star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. By the beginning of the regular season, his contract was done, but the drama continued. Aiyuk was viewed by some 49er fans... -
Kyle Shanahan Sees Tight End Luke Farrell As Prime 49ers Roster Asset
There are certainly other higher-profile roster moves taking place in San Francisco these days, but one of the lesser talked about changes may have a bigger impact on the 49ers' offense this year than some might expect. Three weeks ago, the 49ers signed free-agent tight end... -
Mock draft roundup: PFF, TDN, CBS Sports, and The 33rd Team project 49ers' moves
Mock draft season is in full swing, and several top news and analysis outlets have released their latest projections for the 2025 NFL Draft. Among them are Pro Football Focus (PFF), The Draft Network (TDN), CBS Sports, and The 33rd Team. Here's a look at what these analysts...