San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh has admitted that wide receiver Anquan Boldin is as good as he was expecting in his first season with the club.

Boldin was traded to the 49ers from Harbaugh's brother John's Baltimore Ravens side following last year's Super Bowl, with Jim certain that his team would not have a playoff berth without the veteran's performances this season.

"Anquan Boldin is a football player," Jim Harbaugh told the club's official website. "Let me say it again, Anquan Boldin is a football player. And, that sums up everything. That's the highest compliment you could give somebody that plays the game of football.

"My brother John said, 'You will love Anquan Boldin. You will love the way he practices. He'll take every rep. You'll love the way he competes and plays in the game and the plays that he'll make and the plays that he'll make in the big games and you'll just love being around him.'

"Check, check, check, check. There's a pretty long list."

The 49ers play the Green Bay Packers in their wildcard game on Sunday.