The San Francisco 49ers today announced they have signed QB Colin Kaepernick to a six-year contract extension through the 2020 season.
“Colin’s hard work and dedication have played an integral role in the recent success of the 49ers organization,” said 49ers general manager Trent Baalke. “His work ethic, leadership and on-field production have positively influenced our team, and we look forward to his continued growth in all areas.
“Our organization always looks to reward our players for their contributions and commitment to the team. Colin’s agents, Scott Smith and Jason Bernstein, along with Paraag Marathe and Brian Hampton, should be commended for working diligently to reach an agreement.”
Kaepernick also gave credit to his agents and the 49ers organization for their hard work in to making sure the deal was done as soon as possible.
His goal over the next seven years? “Trying to win as many Super Bowls as I can. I think that’s your goal as a player is to try to win the Super Bowl every year that you’re playing. Granted, that’s not necessarily realistic to win it every single year. But, that’s what your goal is.”
While the star quarterback is going to see a jump in his bank account he plans on making sure his family is taken care of but isn’t really a big spender. “I really don’t spend too much money. I think the three most expensive things I own are my T.V., my bed and my couch. I’m going to keep it that way for a while.”
Teammates are important to Kaepernick and that was part of the contract negotiations. “Part of the way the contract is written and the way it was negotiated was so they would be able to sign other players. That was something that my agents and the organization worked out and they felt like this was something they would be able to get other players with.”
He acknowledged many people who helped him reached his elite status in the NFL including the 49ers former starting QB Alex Smith. “I don’t think I would have been able to be at this point so quickly if he hadn’t been such a great mentor to me and helped me along with things. So, I’m very grateful for my teammates as well. I wouldn’t be here without them.”
Kaepernick (6-4, 230) was originally selected in the second round (36th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft by San Francisco. He has played in 32 games (23 starts), completing 382 of 639 pass attempts for 5,046 yards and 31 touchdowns. Kaepernick has started all six postseason games in which he has appeared, including two NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl. In those games, he posted four wins and threw for 1,374 yards and seven touchdowns, while completing 94 of 162 pass attempts. He has also rushed for 507 yards and four touchdowns on 51 rushing attempts in the playoffs. Kaepernick’s 507 rushing yards ranks second among all quarterbacks in NFL postseason history (Steve Young – 594 yards).
In his first career postseason start, Kaepernick set the NFL single-game rushing record (regular season and postseason) by a quarterback with 181 yards vs. Green Bay (1/12/13). Kaepernick led the 49ers to Super Bowl XLVII having made only nine career starts, the third fewest starts among all quarterbacks in NFL history to start a Super Bowl. His three road playoff victories are also the most among quarterbacks in franchise history.
In 2013, Kaepernick started all 16 regular season games, and all three postseason contests, setting career highs in completions (243), passing yards (3,197) and passing touchdowns (21), while also recording 92 rushing attempts for 542 yards and four touchdowns.
A 26-year-old native of Turlock, CA, Kaepernick played at the University of Nevada, where he was the first college Football Bowl Subdivision quarterback to pass for 10,000-plus yards and rush for 4,000-plus yards. In 51 games (47 starts) for the Wolf Pack, he completed 740 of 1,271 pass attempts for 10,098 yards and 82 touchdowns, while registering 600 rushing attempts for 4,112 yards and 59 touchdowns.
