“He Wanted Colin Kaepernick to Get MVP!” Delanie Walker Blames Jim Harbaugh for 49ers’ Tough Loss to Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII

Former 49ers tight end Delanie Walker alleged that coach Jim Harbaugh wanted QB Colin Kaepernick to win the MVP trophy so instead of running the ball with Frank Gore, he let Kaepernick throw the ball.

“He Wanted Colin Kaepernick to Get MVP!” Delanie Walker Blames Jim Harbaugh for 49ers’ Tough Loss to Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII

Jim Harbaugh and Delanie Walker in the circle (Image via IMAGO/X)

In Short
  • Delanie Walker blames Jim Harbaugh for the 49ers' loss in Super Bowl XLVII, suggesting a run play could have changed the outcome.
  • Walker claims Harbaugh prioritized Colin Kaepernick's MVP chances over a winning strategy during critical plays.
  • Despite Kaepernick's strong performance, the 49ers failed to capitalize on their run game, particularly with Frank Gore.

During his final year with the San Francisco 49ers, tight end Delanie Walker played in his one and only Super Bowl fixture. Recently, Walker disclosed that the game would have concluded differently if Jim Harbaugh had opted to run the ball more, instead of letting quarterback Colin Kaepernick attempt passes.

The 49ers had a significant opportunity to take the lead during the final moments of the game. However, Kaepernick turned the ball over, ultimately handing the victory to the Baltimore Ravens. The defeat still haunts Walker to this day.

How I saw it, he wanted [Colin] Kaepernick to get MVP of the Super Bowl. That was the mindset that Harbaugh had when he thought about throwing the ball 3 times, because if you do go back and look at our run game, they couldn’t stop Frank Gore. After the game, Jim Harbaugh comes in (to the locker room) and says, ‘That’s on me.’ He probably realized we should have run the ball at that moment.

Delanie Walker said while appearing on the Barstool Sports podcast

Harbaugh had good reasons to rely on Kaepernick. It was a breakout year for Colin Kaepernick, who threw 21 touchdowns and had a passer rating of 91.6. He threw for over 300 yards and scored a touchdown in the final game. In doing so, Kaepernick erased a 22-point deficit. With just a couple of minutes left, the Niners marched down deep into the Ravens’ half. Rather than running the ball with Gore, coach Harbaugh threw three passes.

Kaepernick targeted his favorite receiver, Michael Crabtree, on the final pass of the drive. With 1:46 on the clock, CP threw a pass from fourth-and-5 that missed Crabtree. The Ravens, managed by John Harbaugh, Jim’s brother, defended the pass, earning the right to win the game.

Walker noted that Harbaugh could have let Gore score the defining touchdown. Similar to his quarterbacks, Gore was also experiencing a year to remember. He racked up 1214 yards on 258 carries and 8 touchdowns. In three postseason games, Gore amassed over 300 yards and scored 4 touchdowns. Therefore, relying on Gore might have been the better decision.

Harbaugh stayed the Niners’ coach for one more year before accepting the head coaching gig at his alma mater, Michigan. After spending nine years with the Wolverines, winning a CFP title, Harbaugh returned to the NFL ahead of the 2024 season. He is currently managing the Los Angeles Chargers.

What grade did Jim Harbaugh receive in the recent NFLPA report?

Harbaugh is widely regarded as a well-respected coach in the NFL. But the recent NFLPA’s (NFL Players Association) survey, leaked to the press last week.

"He Wanted Colin Kaepernick to Get MVP!" Delanie Walker Blames Jim Harbaugh for 49ers' Tough Loss to Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII
#10 Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert and head coach Jim Harbaugh (Image via IMAGO)

In the survey, the Chargers’ head coach received a C+ grade. Considering Harbaugh’s reputation, anything below an A is a bad grade. Well, he wasn’t the only individual to perform badly. Former offensive coordinator Greg Roman garnered a D- grade. No wonder Harbaugh fired him after a horrible display by the offense in the playoff defeat to the Patriots in January.

Although his grade dropped from a B+ in 2024 to a C+, it doesn’t change the fact that players still love him. As a former player/quarterback, Harbaugh understands the needs and demands of his players, making the Chargers a well-oiled machine.

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