Colin Kaepernick spoke publicly for the first time this offseason about requesting a trade, his health, new coach Chip Kelly, becoming a new person and much, much more.

The embattled quarterback returned to action this week following three surgeries and explained why he requested a trade away from San Francisco in February.

Here’s the transcript (questions are paraphrased and in bold):

On his health this offseason:

Yeah, my health is doing well. Was happy to get on the field this week. Everything’s coming along, progressing as planned. At this point, I can really start to get rolling. I’m excited to get back on the field, get healthy and be ready for this training camp.

On if he expects to be healthy in time for training camp:

Yes. Full go come training camp, ready to compete, ready to give this team everything I have.

On if this has been an odd situation these last few months:

No. I don’t think it’s been odd, or an awkward situation. That was a business aspect of football. At this point I’m here, I’m excited to be with these coaches. The offense has been amazing. My teammates have been great with their support. I’m excited to be back on the field with them. It was a great feeling to back out there this week. The fan support that I’ve gotten through everything. Especially seeing people out, the support that I’ve gotten was amazing. It’s really made me excited to be out here and play.

On why he requested a trade:

That was, organizations at the end of the season go through and evaluate personnel and opportunities. And that was something, I sat down with my team and did the same thing. That’s how we handled the business.

On what led to the trade request and why it was a better decision to try to go elsewhere:

It was, once again, we were looking at different opportunities. I really don’t want to get into specifics of what happened, why things happened. At this point, everything is football. I’m a 49er. Once again, excited to work with Chip and this coaching staff. Curtis and Ryan have been amazing. And I’m excited about what’s to come.

On if he’s confident the 49ers are the best opportunity for him now:

Yeah. I’m very confident in that. What Chip, the coaching staff, my teammates, have really done this offseason and the work they’ve put in, and how everything’s been going, I’m very excited to be here. And looking forward to training camp.

On if his agents have dropped his trade request:

I haven’t even thought about a trade request in a long time. I’m here, I’m a 49er, I’m excited for this offseason, the work that I can put in this summer to get ready for training camp and to come in and compete.

On the fine line between pushing his body and being cautious:

It is a fine line. Tuesday I was only supposed to do individual drills, I felt good where I could do 7 on 7 and some of the 2 on 2, 3 on 3 drills. I was happy that I was able to participate in that, get some live action against a defense, but also keeping in mind that I can’t just jump back into everything and get out there and start going full-go. It is a balance of what’s the limit, how far can I push things?

On his upper body strength:

Still working on getting strength throughout my entire body. It’s something with three surgeries that it took me a while to get back in the weight room and start lifting and being able to put some of that muscle back on, which is why I’m really excited about this summer and the point that I’m at now.

On if the trade request had anything to do with Chip Kelly:

Once again I’m not going to get into specifics. I know you’re trying to do your job and get all the information you can but right now I’m a 49er, I’m excited to be here, I’m happy to be with Chip, my teammates.

On what he’s been told about training camp pecking order:

They haven’t said anything about pecking order or anything like that. All I’ve heard is Chip has told me it’s going to be a competition, as well as Ryan and Curtis, and to come in and be ready to compete. That’s going to be my mindset and I’m excited to do that.

On if the injury guarantee in his contract has affected things:

To be honest I haven’t thought about that. My focus has been on getting healthy, learning this playbook, getting ready for training camp and doing everything I can to prepare this team and my teammates to win.

On if he was surprised the draft came without being traded:

Once again that’s a better question for the organizations. For me, I’m not going to get into that. I’m focused on football, I’m happy to be here, I’m excited to be here with Chip and my teammates.

On how Kelly’s offense suits him:

I think Chip’s system is great for me. I think it’s very similar to what I’ve done in college. More detailed and more complex but I think it’s something that I’ll be able to thrive in and I’m excited to be a part of and really get on the field and get those reps and see what we can do in games.

On if the up-tempo offense suits him:

Yeah, most definitely. It’s an explosive offense. He’s proven that with his track record through college and the NFL. It’s something I’m excited to be a part of and see what we can do this season.

On the mental reps he took helping before being able to throw:

Yeah, most definitely. I think it’s something that I wanted to be able to take those mental reps and at least get a semblance of what the picture is that I’m going to be seeing on certain plays and work through my reads and get those mental reps. I think that’s something that greatly helped me when I got to seven on seven this week and start working three on threes and two on twos, where mentally I felt like I was already in it. Now it’s just getting my body to get back up.

On the fine line of pushing his body without over exerting:

Yeah, it was, once again, a balancing act. First time being back on the field and getting live action, there is a little bit of coordination that you have have to regain. Some things, I was like, ‘alright, I know in mind I was on time, but physically I was late.’ So there’s a little bit of catching up there. I thought Wednesday was a really good day as far as making a step and that coordination in being on time with throws and things like that. So I was excited about that.

On if he thinks he can benefit from a fresh start under Kelly:

Yeah. Chip’s been phenomenal. Chip, Curtis, Ryan, they’ve all been phenomenal. Very focused on details and making sure that everybody’s prepped for what we’re doing. We know what we’re doing when we step on the field, so we can go out and play with a clear mind. Chip brings a lot of excitement with this offense and what he’s been able to do in the NFL. And I think everybody on the team is excited to play for him.

On what he’ll have to do to reclaim his starting job from Blaine Gabbert:

Compete. That’s all I know how to do. Every year that I’ve stepped on the field, it’s a competition, whether people like to say you’re the number one or not. It’s a competition. There’s always someone trying to be that starter, trying to make that step. And this year’s no different. To me, I’m going to go out, compete and do everything I can do go out and start.

On being happy and talkative, and where it’s coming from:

From the soul.

On whether or not he faces less pressure now:

Depends on who’s perception it is. I always put a lot of pressure on myself to do well. Those are things that I want to do. But at this point, I’ve really had an opportunity to sit back, be with my family, be with my woman, and really view what’s important in making sure that when I do step in the building I’m focused football and that’s it.

On whether or not he’s the same person as he was before:

No, definitely not the same person. What I try to do is grow. And that’s not just on the football field, that’s in life, that’s in my relationships, that’s in everything. So, to me to be able to grow and have that growth, it’s something that I strive to do. And I think that’s something that I took a big step in this past year.

On how he’s preparing himself for training camp, physically and mentally:

A lot of work. A lot of work ahead of me. A lot of just preparation, making sure I’m on top of everything. I’m in a situation where I’m a little bit behind because I am rehabbing to get back to 100 percent where I can start training. So at this point there’s a lot of work to be done.

This is kind of a unique situation, if you guys have any more questions, feel free to ask. (I) Want to make sure you guys get all your questions answered. Moving forward we can be all football.

On how much weight he wants to gain back:

That really depends on how training goes and everything like that. There’s a pretty substantial amount of weight that I want to put on this summer.

On wearing a new visor:

For me, it was something I need to protect my eyes. Been doing a lot of things to make sure my vision’s correct. So the visor’s been there to help with that.

On if he’s spoken to general manager Trent Baalke since requesting the trade:

No, I haven’t had any discussions with him. But, once again, I don’t want to get into any specifics. I just want to focus on football and making sure I’m prepared for this upcoming season.

On how hurt he was last season while playing with the injury to his left shoulder:

Yeah, it was something that, at the time, I didn’t realize how bad things were until I went and got and got a second opinion and really saw what had happened. At this point, I’m close to being 100 percent healthy, close to where I can start training again. And really looking forward to the progress I can make this summer and being ready for training camp.

On his relationship with his teammates:

Yeah, from my standpoint I have a great relationship with my teammates. I really can’t answer that question for them how they view me. That’s a better question suited for them. For me, I have a great relationship with them and we’re all working hard to make sure we’re prepared to win this season.

On whether or not he could feel the injuries affect his play:

To be perfectly blunt with you, I didn’t play my best football last year _ injury, no injury, I wasn’t playing my best football. That’s something I’m excited about for this season is being able to redeem myself, go out there and play well and prove to everybody what I’m capable of.

On what the last six months have been like:

To be honest I haven’t watched and listened to too much. I’ve been in a lot of isolation. There’s not too much around Vail. So it’s been a lot of rehab. That’s really where my mind’s been, ‘OK, how can I get healthy, how can I get healthy as fast as possible, and make sure I’m ready to get in and play football.’

On his relationship with the 49ers’ front office:

Once again that’s not something I want to get into. I’m here to talk about football. I’m excited to be here, I’m excited to play football, I’m excited for this competition this fall.

On the psychological grind of rehabbing:

It was tough. It was something where I wasn’t able to do a whole lot for a pretty substantial amount of time. That’s why this week I was so excited to be out there. It really felt like I got to be an athlete again and start moving around and being on the field was something that really helps your confidence and really helps get the wheels turning for the summer.

On how much weight he needs to put on:

I don’t know exactly how much I need to put on but I need to put on quite a bit. But that’s not something I’ve had a problem with in the past.

On how low his weight got after surgery:

I don’t know how low I got, it wasn’t where I want to be. It’s something I have to put on quite a bit of weight. I will be prepared for this training camp.

On if his weight training hindered his play in the past and if he was too tight:

Too tight, I do think that’s possible. Too much muscle for what I do and how I play, I don’t think so. I’ve been heavier in the past and played just as well and better. I don’t think that’s really the issue, it’s making sure I do everything on the recovery end and making sure I stay limber as well.

On being too tight:

There’s things as far as stretching and soft tissue, icing, all those recovery methods that help keep your muscles loose, flexible, all those things so when you step on the field you’re ready to go.

On if his style of play will change after the injuries:

No. My style of play is my style of play. I have to be able to continue with that and be able to do those things and do what this offense requires of me. It’s really about building a new foundation for what this season is going to be.

On the opportunities for quarterbacks to run in Kelly’s offense:

I think it will be more but it really depends on what the offense is doing, what the game plan is, what the calls that are coming in are. All those things are dictated by what the coaches feel as far as game plan and what the defense is going to be giving us.

On why he had surgeries away from the team and not with team doctors:

I’m not going to get into specifics on my medical side. Those things are in the past. I’m trying to stay focused moving forward, trying to keep everything positive energy, positive vibes, excited for this fall.

On if his daily preparation for practice is different:

Yeah there’s different things I have to do now to make sure I’m warm, I’m loose and everything’s moving well.

On if his relationship with Gabbert has changed:

To me I don’t see it any different. It’s always a competition. We’re going to help each other, we’re going to do everything we can to make sure we’re prepared for games, but it is a competition. I’ll be prepared for that as well.