In his first career postseason start, quarterback Joe Montana won a game for the 49ers.
So did Colin Kaepernick.
Steve Young threw two touchdown passes in his opening start in the playoffs.
So did Kaepernick.
Jeff Garcia completed…
Okay, we’ll just stop there.
Point being, Kaepernick has been nothing short of incredible throughout his first starting NFL campaign.
He averaged over 10 yards per pass attempt, threw two touchdowns, completed his longest pass and produced a near-perfect 97.5 QBR in his first career start against a shutdown Bears defense,
Two weeks later, he threw and ran for a TD against the vaunted Saints on the road, and tossed four TD passes in a win over Tom Brady and the unbeatable Patriots at Gillette Stadium.
Then, in his playoff premier, Kaepernick enjoyed quite the coming out party courtesy of the Packers. He logged two TD passes, earned a 94.7 QBR and merely set a record for most rushing yards ever by a QB.
Two TDs, an 11.3 average and, well, 181 yards on the ground generally amount to record-setting performances.
Kaepernick now holds the keys to a Super Bowl appearance. He leads the favored 49ers against a Falcons squad with well-documented weaknesses on the defensive side of the ball.
But can he do it? Will he overpower Atlanta en route to securing the Vince Lombardi trophy?
Will Kaepernick become the next great 49ers quarterback?
The answer, quite simply, is yes.
The 49ers coaching staff will ride this successful read-option approach until Kaepernick develops into a fully capable pocket passer. It will capitalize on his best immediate assets, while fostering his long-term skill set conducive for a franchise-quarterback career.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh is a former starting NFL field general. He fully understands the recent innovations inspired by this new breed of quarterback, as well as the traditional, and sustainable, functionality of the position.
Harbaugh is an intelligent, no-nonsense coach who only tolerates the toughest, meanest and most football-savvy players at every position—quarterback included.
The bigger picture never escapes him. He inserted Kaepernick as the starting QB because he knew extensive regular-season experience would transform him into a playoff winner.
And not just a one-game winner; but also one with the ability to take San Francisco to the football promised land now, and well into the future.
Complete and utter due respect to Alex Smith aside, Kaepernick possesses a QB repertoire that keeps opposing defensive coordinators up at night. It’s of the mind and body, and one that produces Super Bowl championships for his surrounding brethren.
Kaepernick will begin that ascent with three touchdowns against the Falcons.
After that, well, just remember the gridiron scripts of any great 49ers quarterback. Kaepernick will be adding his name to the credits soon enough.
Follow me on Twitter @jlevitt16