The NFL has been cracking down on illegal hits this season, doling out fines on the regular. Usually it’s defensive players delivering the big hits, but Colin Kaepernick decided to get in on the fun on Sunday.
Kaepernick led the 49ers’ offense to two straight scoring drives to kick off the final game of wild-card weekend, taking a quick 6-0 lead in Green Bay. The Niners drove downfield in an attempt to add onto that lead early in the second quarter, but Packers cornerback Tramon Williams stepped in front of Vernon Davis and intercepted Kaepernick’s pass to stop San Francisco’s momentum and give the Packers the ball back.
Williams turned up field after the pick, looking for running room in hopes of giving the Packers better field position, but he didn’t get very far before running into some trouble. Williams got to about the 30-yard line when he came upon Kaepernick patiently waiting to take him down. The quarterback delivered a vicious hit on Williams, but it may not have exactly been a legal one.
As Kaepernick braced to deliver the blow, he lowered his head and led with his helmet, ringing Williams’ bell with a mean helmet-to-helmet blast. Quarterbacks aren’t normally subject to such hits or punishments, but Roger Goodell and the league office may want to take an extra look at the play to see if a fine is in order.
Check out Kaepernick’s big hit in the GIF below.
GIF via Buzz Feed Sports
