Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: Top 5 players of the Jim Harbaugh era

By Adam Trovato

Dec 20, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh hands off to running back Frank Gore (21) during warm up before the game against the San Diego Chargers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh hands off to running back Frank Gore (21) during warm up before the game against the San Diego Chargers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 28: Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the San Francisco 49ers talks with Colin Kaepernick #7 before their game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium on December 28, 2014 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 28: Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the San Francisco 49ers talks with Colin Kaepernick #7 before their game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium on December 28, 2014 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Colin Kaepernick

I know what you might be thinking, and it all depends if you’re a fan of quarterback Colin Kaepernick or not.

Kap might not have been a fan favorite the past couple of seasons, and he certainly looked a shell of his former self. But it’s important to remember what the quarterback was capable of doing at the high point of San Francisco’s reign of dominance under Harbaugh.

In fact, one could argue Kap and Harbaugh were forever linked together.

Harbaugh got the most out of Kaepernick ever since he took over for fellow 49ers quarterback Alex Smith in 2012. And one could make the argument Kaepernick was an integral part of why the Niners got to the Super Bowl that year.

If you don’t believe me, just look at how Fox Sports’ team of analysts felt about Kaepernick when he destroyed the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs that season:

Fans’ perceptions of Kaepernick certainly have changed since. But under Harbaugh, Kap was one of the most exciting players in the entire NFL.

That makes him a must-have on this list.