NFL NEWS

Report: 49ers QB Kaepernick wants to join Jets

The Sports Xchange

February 02, 2016 at 11:39 pm.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Apparently the addition of Chip Kelly as the San Francisco 49ers’ head coach has not made quarterback Colin Kaepernick feel more comfortable about his situation.

The New York Daily News reported that Kaepernick wants out of San Francisco, and his preferred destination is the New York Jets.

Whether the Jets have any interest in Kaepernick is another question, one Jets officials cannot answer without being accused of tampering.

Kaepernick led the 49ers to the Super Bowl following the 2012 season and to the NFC championship game the following year. But he was replaced by Blaine Gabbert as the starting quarterback midway through the 2015 season.

It would seem the hiring of Kelly, who likes to run the read-option that helped Kaepernick become a star in 2012, would be attractive to Kaepernick. But apparently it isn’t.

Presumably, the 49ers would prefer to trade Kaepernick rather than cut him. But if he is still on the 49ers roster as of April 1, his $11.9 million base salary would become fully guaranteed.

The Jets have quarterback Geno Smith under contract, but 2015 starter Ryan Fitzpatrick would become a free agent in March.

Kaepernick completed 59 percent of his passes with six touchdown passes and five interceptions in 2015, when he started eight games.