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Harbaugh believes 'outstanding' Kaepernick will win championships

Kelley L Cox / USA TODAY Sports

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh came to the defense of his former protege, Colin Kaepernick, during a radio segment Tuesday.

Kaepernick has yet to be signed after opting out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers on March 3.

Harbaugh, who coached Kaepernick from 2011-2014, lobbied for a team to take a chance on the 29-year-old.

"I think he's an outstanding player," Harbaugh said during an appearance on PFT Live. "I think he's a great competitor who's proven it in games and has the ability to be not only an NFL starter but a great NFL player.

"... Colin will be just fine. He'll just keep plugging away, and I think you'll see he'll have a great career and be a great quarterback. Win championships."

Kaepernick steered the 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance in 2012 under Harbaugh's tutelage, ultimately falling short to the Baltimore Ravens.

Harbaugh stated that NFL teams are too impatient with quarterbacks and demand results immediately, implying that Kaepernick deserves another shot at starting.

"It seems that these days people aren't as patient," he said. "They want to label someone as being great or not being able to play, being a bust so quickly these days. Even after they label them great, then if a quarterback struggles for a season, all of a sudden they can't wait to tear them down. Build them up to tear them down."

In a weak market for quarterbacks, Kaepernick remains one of the best available, and it'll be compelling to see whether Harbaugh's comments wield influence over a few needy teams.

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