George Kittle has already carved out a place in 49ers history, and now he’s added another line to a resume that keeps growing in San Francisco.
Earlier this season against the Denver Broncos, the 33-year-old passed Vernon Davis to become the franchise’s all-time leader in touchdown receptions by a tight end. That kind of milestone would matter anywhere, but with the 49ers, it carries extra weight.
“Anytime you’re on a record list within the 49ers organization, I think that’s a pretty special list to be part of,” Kittle told 49ers on SI’s Henry Cheal.
“It’s such a historic franchise, with so many amazing football players who have played here.
“Being in my tenth year of my career here, it’s really exciting. It’s always fun, and it’s something I’m incredibly proud of.
“It’s an honour just to be on the same list as Vernon Davis. You’re also on lists alongside Jerry Rice and Terrell Owens. It’s fascinating because those are guys I grew up watching, and the fact that I’m now mentioned alongside them is really cool.
“It’s important to appreciate those achievements and take a moment to enjoy them. At the same time, I know there’s still work to be done and more left to achieve. There’s more meat on the bone, which I genuinely believe.
“But when you take a moment to sit back and think about it, I feel incredibly lucky and blessed to be in the position I’m in and to be where I am today.
That achievement arrives as Kittle enters his 10th season in the red and gold, a run that began when Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch picked him in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He’s now part of the 10-year club, another marker of just how long he’s been central to what the 49ers do.
And the numbers this season suggest he’s not slowing down. After spending the offseason rehabbing an Achilles injury, Kittle has come back looking sharp, with five touchdowns and 425 receiving yards already on the board.
Kittle has also made it clear he wants to spend his entire career in San Francisco. For now, the story keeps moving in the same direction: more production, more records, and more chances to add to a legacy that already has him standing with the franchise’s best.
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