As the 49ers head into a crucial 2026 offseason, one name that’s quietly gaining importance is Jake Tonges. With George Kittle expected to miss significant time while recovering from a torn Achilles, San Francisco’s depth at tight end suddenly feels a lot thinner - and that puts Tonges in the spotlight.
Let’s be clear: re-signing Tonges isn’t just a smart move, it’s a necessary one.
The 2025 season saw Tonges step up in a big way. He didn’t just fill a roster spot - he delivered when it counted.
With 34 catches for 293 yards and five touchdowns, he carved out a role as a dependable target, especially in high-leverage situations like the red zone and over the middle. Those aren’t gaudy numbers, but context matters.
Tonges wasn’t the featured weapon in Kyle Shanahan’s offense, but when his number was called, he produced. And more importantly, he earned the trust of both the coaching staff and his quarterbacks.
That trust becomes even more valuable now with Kittle sidelined for at least half the 2026 season. Kittle has long been the heartbeat of this offense - a rare blend of blocking grit and receiving explosiveness.
But an Achilles injury at this stage of his career raises real concerns about how much longer he can be that guy. The 49ers can’t afford to wait and see.
They need someone who can step in and keep the offense humming without forcing a major schematic overhaul.
Tonges has already shown he can be that guy.
He’s not just a stopgap. His performance in 2025 suggests he can be a bridge starter if needed, a reliable complement when Kittle returns, or even a longer-term solution if the tight end room continues to evolve. That kind of versatility is gold in today’s NFL, especially in a system that leans heavily on tight ends to do a little bit of everything - block, catch, create mismatches.
From a front office perspective, the move is straightforward. Tonges is a restricted free agent, so placing a tender on him is the baseline.
But the smarter play might be locking him up with a multi-year, team-friendly deal now - before he hits the open market or draws interest from tight end-needy teams. It’s a proactive move that could save money down the line and provide stability at a position that suddenly feels uncertain.
The bottom line: Jake Tonges has already proven he belongs. Now it’s time for the 49ers to make sure he stays. With Kittle’s future up in the air and the offense needing reliable hands and blocking up front, Tonges offers the kind of flexibility and production that’s hard to find - and even harder to replace.