Faithful Flashbacks #25: Kaepernick’s First Start

Faithful Flashbacks revisits Colin Kaepernick’s first NFL start, a Monday night win that changed the 49ers’ offense.

Aug 6, 2026, 8:00 AM Updated: 11:40 am

Watch: 2026 49ers Record Prediction: Where Will San Francisco Finish In The NFC? | 9 mins

In honor of the San Francisco 49ers celebrating their 80th anniversary, Sactown Sports is kicking off a countdown of the 80 greatest moments in the franchise’s illustrious history in reverse order called Faithful Flashbacks.

From Super Bowl-winning plays to overperforming teams that had minimal expectations, there’s plenty to choose from the team with five titles under its belt.

The voting was conducted by a handful of the Sactown Sports’ staffers before results were compiled into a full list that will count down to the 49ers’ 2026 NFL regular season debut against the Rams in Melbourne, Australia, on September 10th.

Faithful Flashbacks -- San Francisco 49ers 80 Best Moments

Coming in at No. 25 on our ‘Faithful Flashbacks’ countdown of the 80 best moments in franchise history is Colin Kaepernick’s first NFL start.

The 49ers were in a good place when the quarterback situation changed in 2012, which added to the complication of the move. Alex Smith had helped lead San Francisco to the NFC Championship Game the year before, and the team was once again in the middle of a playoff push under Jim Harbaugh.

Smith was playing up to his standard at that point. He had become a steadier quarterback after years of instability, and the 49ers had built a formula that worked around defense, the run game, and limiting mistakes. Suffering a concussion against the Rams opened the door for Kaepernick, but it didn’t feel like an obvious passing of the torch, at least yet.

Kaepernick had been drafted in the second round in 2011, giving the 49ers a different type of quarterback option behind Smith. His arm strength and rushing ability were part of the appeal, but there is a difference between using a young quarterback in certain packages and handing him a full start on Monday Night against the Chicago Bears.

Sure enough, the young quarterback seized the moment and kick-started a new era of 49ers football.

Kaepernick completed 16 of 23 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns in a 32-7 win over Chicago. The 49ers did not have to hide him or treat the game as if he were simply filling in. He pushed the ball downfield, moved the offense with confidence, and gave San Francisco a more explosive version of what it could be thanks to his scrambling ability.

The Bears entered that night with one of the league’s better defenses, but you wouldn’t have known it. Kaepernick connected with TE Vernon Davis, found WR Michael Crabtree, and looked comfortable enough that the quarterback debate felt much more obvious than it did before that showing.

Harbaugh eventually chose Kaepernick over Smith, and the decision helped reshape the rest of the season. The 49ers went on to reach the Super Bowl, with Kaepernick’s running ability and downfield arm becoming central parts of their offense and catching opponents off balance.

His first start was a sign of what he would become and was essentially all it took for him to earn the starting spot. Thanks to one impressive Monday night game, Kaepernick went from backup quarterback to one of the biggest stories of the 49ers’ season.

More Faithful Flashbacks from Sactown Sports

Upcoming San Francisco 49ers Schedule

Late July 2026 – NFL Training Camps open
Thursday, September 10th – vs. Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia (Season Opener) – 5:35 pm PT
Sunday, September 20th – vs. Miami Dolphins – 1:25 pm PT
Sunday, September 27th – vs. Arizona Cardinals – 1:05 pm PT
Sunday, October 4th – vs. Denver Broncos – 1:25 pm PT

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