This week, the San Francisco 49ers are mired in what has to be a historically unique predicament. About 19 months after the team played in the Super Bowl, the Niners are about to host the Atlanta Falcons, and will voluntarily sit the healthy quarterback who got them one victory short of the Lombardi Trophy—Colin Kaepernick—in favor of Blaine Gabbert.
Turning to Gabbert in a time of crisis is certainly an unprecedented move. After being selected 10th overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2011 Draft, one pick before a defensive end named J.J. Watt, Gabbert only made it three games into his third season (2013) before he was benched.