SANTA CLARA, Calif. _ Colin Kaepernick woke up Tuesday morning to "painful" news that had nothing to do with the 49ers' 12-game losing streak: former rookie teammate Konrad Reuland has passed away from a brain aneurysm.
Reuland, 29, joined the 49ers in 2011 as an undrafted rookie out of Stanford, and the blond-haired, good-natured tight end spent 2011 on the 49ers practice squad.
"That first year I spent quite a bit of time with him, knew him pretty well," said Kaepernick, who kept in touch with Reuland after he left to join the Jets in 2012, part of a 30-game career that also included stops with the Baltimore Ravens and Indianapolis Colts.
Reuland sustained a brain aneurysm Nov. 28 and had surgery the following day. Ravens coach John Harbaugh informed reporters of Reuland's death Monday night, after the Ravens' loss at the New England Patriots.
"It's one of those tragedies you don't see coming and hope never happens to anybody," Kaepenrick said. "He was always such a great person, very kind-hearted. It's painful and I send my best wishes to his family."
Linebacker Shayne Skov played at Stanford with Reuland and his younger brother, Warren.
"Obviously Konrad was a good friend of mine," Reuland said. "It was difficult, unforeseen and unexpected. But he fought for the past week. It was just too much, I guess."
Skov last saw Reuland in the summer, noting how the "Stanford family all stay connected."
"He was a good guy, goofy, loved to argue and debate over the most pointless stuff but it was always entertaining," Skov said. "It's difficult, but you see the response on social media and everybody about the kind of person he was."
