Santa Clara, CA (Sports Network) - The 49ers quarterback controversy has been solved.
On Thursday, San Francisco announced the trade of Alex Smith to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for an undisclosed 2013 draft pick as well as a conditional choice in the 2014 draft.
The deal is contingent upon Smith passing a physical.
"We would like to thank Alex for his contributions to the 49ers organization over the past eight years," said 49ers general manager Trent Baalke. "He is a true professional who represented the 49ers with class on and off the field."
Smith had been supplanted under center by Colin Kaepernick, who led the franchise to its first Super Bowl appearance since 1995.
It's a stunning turnaround for Smith, the Utah product who agreed to terms on a deal almost one year ago that ensured he'd return to to a 49ers team which finished with a 13-3 record and an NFC West championship in 2011.
In 10 games (nine starts) last season, he completed 153-of-218 passes for 1,737 yards, 13 touchdowns and five interceptions, going 6-2-1.
The first overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft, the 28-year-old has recorded 2,177 pass attempts, completing 1,290 for 14,280 yards and 81 touchdowns over eight seasons with the 49ers. Smith has also rushed for 761 yards and four TDs on 212 attempts.
