The agents of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick have reportedly requested a trade, even though new head coach Chip Kelly had nice things to say about him this week.
The news was first reported by NFL Network. Sources also told ESPN that Kaepernick’s agents want a trade.
Kelly, who was hired in January after being fired by the Eagles, had said as recently as Thursday that he thought Kaepernick wanted to stay with the team.
“He wants to be here,” Kelly said at the NFL combine. “He's never expressed to me that he didn't want to be here. He expressed to me that he's excited about getting healthy and getting going. And we're excited about him getting healthy and getting going.”
Kaebernick’s fall has been quick, since it was only three years ago that he lead the 49ers to the Super Bowl. But he has suffered injuries in recent years and is now recovering from surgeries to his left knee, right thumb and left shoulder.
After the Niners started 2-6 last season, Kaepernick was benched and then put on IR weeks later.
The Niners will probably want to make a decision about the quarterback's future by April 1, when his $11.9 million base salary becomes guaranteed.