George Kittle Reflects on Gritty 49ers Season, Eyes Bigger Goals Ahead
George Kittle isn’t one to sugarcoat things. The 49ers' All-Pro tight end is as honest as he is relentless on the field, and after a season that tested San Francisco’s depth, durability, and championship mettle, he’s keeping it real - and optimistic.
“Jeez Louise, boys - good job,” Kittle said, summing up a year that saw the Niners win 13 games despite a revolving door of injuries to some of their biggest stars. He wasn’t exaggerating.
Kittle himself missed the early part of the season. Quarterback Brock Purdy was sidelined for a stretch.
Defensive anchors Nick Bosa and Fred Warner also missed time. That’s not just a few bumps and bruises - that’s the core of your team.
And yet, the 49ers still found a way to win. They didn’t just survive - they thrived.
Thirteen wins, a playoff road win in Philadelphia, and a locker room that never lost its edge. That doesn’t happen by accident.
It’s a testament to coaching, culture, and a next-man-up mentality that’s more than just a slogan in San Francisco.
Kittle knows the ultimate goal wasn’t met - no Super Bowl parade this time around - but he’s not ignoring the silver linings. “That’s pretty damn impressive,” he said.
“Our goal every year is to win a Super Bowl - did we achieve that goal? No.
But a lot of guys got a lot of good reps.”
And that matters. When your stars go down and your depth steps up, it’s not just about surviving the moment.
It’s about building for the future. San Francisco leaned on younger players and role guys who were suddenly thrust into starting roles.
That experience? It’s invaluable.
Come next season, those same players won’t just be backups - they’ll be battle-tested contributors who’ve already been in the fire.
Kittle gave the season an “A or B+,” and considering the circumstances - losing “five of their six most expensively paid players for an extended period of time” - that feels fair. This wasn’t the fully-loaded 49ers juggernaut we’ve seen in past years, but it was a team that refused to fold.
Now, it’s about what comes next. Kittle’s already looking ahead, and while he’s recovering from his own injury, he’s aiming to be back on the field by Week 1. That might be a stretch - Week 3 or 4 is more realistic - but his mindset is clear: get healthy, get back, and get after it.
The core of this team is still intact. The locker room is still strong. And if the 49ers can stay healthier this time around, they won’t just be in the playoff mix - they’ll be right back in the Super Bowl conversation.
Kittle’s not making promises. But his confidence?
It’s hard-earned. And it should have the rest of the NFC paying attention.