Our friend, George Kittle the tight end for the San Francisco 49ers, is at it again. He just signed a four-year $76.4 million contract extension. Kittle has already started turning that page and, in so doing, finds himself overcome with optimism and excitement. He intends to play forever, fervently wanting to fight through injuries, the rigors of pro football. Kittle has been listed on the injury report 13 times in the last three seasons and has missed a combined four games to injury. Even with these disappointments, he remains intent on finding his way into the league’s upper crust.
Kittle’s path to the present day hasn’t come without challenges. He is all too familiar with the burden of injuries, and he knows that being at his best physically and mentally is crucial. Each offseason, he takes the trip to Panama City for stem cell therapy. He attributes this routine to over 20 years of maintaining and operating at peak physical condition. “I’ve always hung my hat on the fact that I know that if I’m playing at my best that there’s no one that is going to take my job and that I’m going to continue to play at a really high level,” Kittle remarked.
Beyond physical maintenance, Kittle speaks to the value of mental preparation in extending his career. It was thanks to a better understanding of the game’s subtleties that he mentions as having helped him stay in peak form even after the age of 30. Fluent in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense, Kittle is capable of explaining plays in a manner that reflects his comprehensive grasp of the game. “When we call and install certain plays, I don’t have to ask why we’re doing those things,” he explained. “I just love the game so much and I’ve been blessed enough to have this opportunity.”
Kittle’s extraordinary work ethic and commitment to improvement have made an impact on his teammates as well. For his part, quarterback Brock Purdy, Kittle’s 49er teammate, lauded Kittle’s focus and infectious dispositions. “Everyone sees Kittle and he’s funny, he’s got the great personality, and that’s really who he is,” Purdy stated. “I think that’s who he is because he’s confident in his work, his preparation.”
Another transformative factor has been Kittle’s relationship with offensive assistant Brian Fleury. According to Riley, the two work in tandem to checklist each play and ensure they get the right defensive formation or coverage alignment. Beyond just the creation of routes, this collaborative approach has Kittle working on a route plan for how to beat different defensive coverages. Fleury noted, “He’s just at a completely different level in terms of his experience within the same offense and the reps and the volume he’s being asked to carry.”
Kittle’s value goes beyond that depth chart, as he is one of just five tight ends ever to reach four seasons with 1,000-plus receiving yards. He now joins an exceptional club that includes Travis Kelce, Rob Gronkowski, Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten for accomplishing such a feat. This achievement has set him up well to be recognized again in the years to come. A few more seasons at or near his current performance level could place Kittle in line for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Kittle’s ambitions go beyond individual accomplishment. He believes he owes it to his teammates and future players. “There are 10,000 kids who would love to be the starting tight end for the San Francisco 49ers,” Kittle stated. And it’s my duty to make sure none of their dreams happen. That’s one thing that motivates me and one thing that just makes me want to play as long as I freaking can.
The former tight end’s commitment to the game shines through both his impressive physical workout and purposeful mental approach. He’s brilliant at breaking down defenses, identifying tells that can signal blocking assignments or coverage patterns. By focusing on specifics, he raises the performance of his players individually as well as how his whole unit performs together.
Leave a Reply