San Francisco 49ers: Time to End Blaine Gabbert Era

The San Francisco 49ers are somehow keeping Blaine Gabbert’s career alive, but it’s time to pull the plug and move on.

To say that Blaine Gabbert’s NFL career was on life support prior to being named the San Francisco 49ers starter in 2016 would be appropriate. After the Jacksonville Jaguars struggled to make Gabbert look remotely competent in his three seasons there, they rightly jettisoned him.

The Jags were tied to Gabbert because they traded up to draft him in 2011. The 49ers don’t have that type of connection and don’t need to justify keeping him around.

Right now, Gabbert has the second-lowest completion percentage in the NFL (55.2 percent) with only Case Keenum worse. He has the worst yards per attempt (5.5) in the NFL. Moreover, he has the second-worst yards per completion (10). Predictably, he’s throwing for 177 yards per game (31st in the NFL).

Among all quarterbacks right now, Gabbert is proving to be the exact same quarterback he was when given the option to start for the Jaguars. The pleasant surprise that Gabbert was in seven games in 2015 was a fluke. He’s settling back to be more in line with his past season averages.

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As James Brady at SB Nation notes, “Blaine Gabbert is terrible, and it’s a mystery why he’s still playing.” As someone who has covered the Jaguars for FanSided, I bought into the hype back in 2011-2013, writing ridiculous things like “All aboard the Blaine-Train!” and “Can Blaine Gabbert be a franchise quarterback?” Frankly, the Blaine-Train never got started and the answer to the second question is no, he can’t be.

While there is some controversy surrounding backup Colin Kaepernick, this is the NFL and what matters most is on-field results. While his comments continually lost him support (per Josh Peter of USA Today), what matters is that Kaepernick doesn’t throw 5.5 yards per attempt. In fact, he’s never had a season in which he averaged worse than 6.6 (compared to three of Gabbert’s five seasons being at 5.6 or worse).

Frankly, it’s ridiculous that head coach Chip Kelly is standing by Gabbert at this point. He reiterated that Gabbert is his starter for reasons that are completely unknown to anybody not named Kelly. Gabbert hasn’t shown he can somehow turn the corner or find another level. The Blaine Gabbert the 49ers have is the same one we’ve all known for years.

Must Read: Is Blaine Gabbert having a rebirth with the Niners?

It’s time to end this farce and move on. Literally almost any other quarterback in the NFL would be better for the San Francisco 49ers at this point.