NFC West Notes: Kittle Teases Reunion, Keion White Recovering, Rams Make Coaching Move, Walker Praises Team Effort
49ers: Kittle Hints at Familiar Faces Returning
Coming off a season that tested their depth and resilience, the 49ers are already looking ahead - and tight end George Kittle is doing a little more than just reflecting. Speaking with optimism about San Francisco’s future, Kittle dropped an intriguing nugget that has fans buzzing: a potential reunion with a familiar face.
“My one message for Niners fans - hey, if a rebuild year got us to thirteen wins and a win in the wild card, that’s pretty good,” Kittle said. “It’s only gonna get a little bit better from that, and all the boys are coming back again. And who knows, we might add some past friends.”
Now, Kittle didn’t name names outright, but the subtext was loud enough to hear from Levi’s Stadium to the Bay Bridge. When asked about wide receiver Deebo Samuel, Kittle added, “I don’t know.
I hung out with Deebo last night. That was fun … I love Deebo.”
While nothing is confirmed, the connection between Kittle and Samuel has always been strong - both on and off the field. If the 49ers are indeed exploring a way to bring Samuel back into the fold, it would be a major boost to an already potent offense. After all, when healthy, Deebo is one of the league’s most dynamic playmakers - a wideout who can break games open with the ball in his hands.
49ers: Keion White Recovering After Shooting Incident
In more serious news, defensive lineman Keion White is recovering after being shot in the ankle on Monday morning in San Francisco. The team confirmed that White was a victim in the incident and is currently undergoing surgery at a local hospital.
The 49ers released a statement saying, “Keion White was a victim of a shooting and sustained a bullet wound to his ankle this morning in San Francisco. He is currently undergoing surgery at a local hospital. We will provide further updates when appropriate.”
Thankfully, the injury is not believed to be life- or career-threatening. White had been carving out a role on the defensive line, and the hope is that he’ll be able to make a full recovery and return to football in due time.
Rams: Michael Hunter Hired as DBs Coach
The Rams are continuing to reshape their coaching staff, and their latest move brings in a rising name in the college ranks. Los Angeles is hiring Michael Hunter - who was set to be the cornerbacks coach at Tennessee - to serve as a defensive backs coach.
Hunter had spent the previous two seasons at Ohio State as an assistant DBs coach, helping develop one of the top secondaries in the Big Ten. His jump to the NFL signals the Rams’ ongoing commitment to developing young talent on the back end of their defense.
With the Rams leaning on youth in their secondary in recent years, Hunter’s experience working with college players could be a perfect fit. He’s walked the walk, too - Hunter played in the NFL as a cornerback before transitioning into coaching.
Seahawks: Walker Gives Credit Where It’s Due
After a Super Bowl performance that will go down in Seahawks lore, Kenneth Walker could have taken a well-earned victory lap. Instead, the newly minted Super Bowl MVP made sure to shine the spotlight on his teammates.
“We worked on the run game all week leading up to the game,” Walker said. “I’ve got to give the credit to the o-line, the wide receivers and the tight ends. They were detailed in the run game and did their job, and made my job a lot easier.”
Walker rushed for 135 yards in the championship win, slicing through the defense with the kind of vision, burst, and balance that made him a difference-maker all season. But his humility after the game speaks volumes about the culture Seattle is building under its new regime.
It wasn’t just Walker’s individual brilliance - it was the collective execution. The offensive line opened lanes, the tight ends sealed edges, and the receivers blocked downfield.
That’s the kind of total-team effort that wins Super Bowls. And Walker knows it.
From Kittle’s cryptic comments to Walker’s team-first mentality, the NFC West is already heating up - and it’s only February. Whether it’s coaching moves, comeback stories, or potential reunions, the division is setting up for another wild ride in 2026.