A Black quarterback will represent NFC in 2014 Super Bowl
By Dedrick D. Henry, Sr.
Kaepernick filled in for an injured Alex Smith in 2012 and became the full-time starter as the 49ers advanced to the NFL playoffs for the second straight season. He set an NFL record for most rushing yards (181) by a quarterback in a game (playoffs or regular season) in his first playoff game. After beating the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship 28-24, he led the 49ers to their first Super Bowl since 1994, where they lost to the Baltimore Ravens. Kaepernick finished the 2013- 2014 season with 21 touchdown passes, eight interceptions, 3,197 yards and a 91.6 passer rating.
Kaepernick has led the 49ers to another stellar season and a NFC Championship game against Russell Wilson and the hard-hitting Seattle Seahawks. Russell Wilson has had an outstanding season as well; he and the Seahawks have dominated teams on both sides of the ball this season. Wilson signed a four-year, $2.99 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks in 2012 and was named the team’s starting quarterback on August 26, 2012. In his rookie season Wilson led the Seahawks to an 11-5 regular season record and the divisional round of the NFL playoffs, and he was voted the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year.
Wilson finished the 2012 regular season ranked 4th in the NFL in passer rating (100.0), beating the previous rookie record set by Ben Roethlisberger in 2004 (98.1). He threw for 3,118 yards and 26 touchdowns, tying Peyton Manning’s record for most touchdowns thrown by a rookie. Additionally, Wilson rushed for 489 yards and four touchdowns.
Wilson and the Seahawks opened the 2013 season with the first 4-0 start in franchise history, giving up their first loss to the Colts in week 5.. The Seahawks then went on a seven-game winning streak, culminating in a 34-7 victory over the Saints in week 13 in which Wilson threw three touchdown passes. Wilson finished the season with 26 touchdown passes, nine interceptions, and a 101.2 passer rating, becoming the first quarterback in the Super Bowl era to post a 100+ passer rating in each of his first two seasons. Wilson was named to his second Pro Bowl on Dec. 27, 2013..
