George Kittle facts for kids
.jpg)
Kittle in 2019
|
|||||||
| No. 85 – San Francisco 49ers | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Tight end | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | October 9, 1993 Madison, Wisconsin, U.S. |
||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 250 lb (113 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Norman (Norman, Oklahoma) | ||||||
| College: | Iowa (2012–2016) | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2017 / Round: 5 / Pick: 146 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
|
|||||||
| Roster status: | Active | ||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
|
|||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of 2024 | |||||||
|
|||||||
| Player stats at PFR | |||||||
George Krieger Kittle (born October 9, 1993) is a famous American football player. He plays as a tight end for the San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League (NFL). George played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes. The 49ers picked him in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL draft. He has been chosen for the Pro Bowl six times. He was also named a first-team All-Pro in 2019 and 2023, which means he was one of the best players in his position in those years.
Contents
George Kittle's Early Life and Family
George Kittle was born in Madison, Wisconsin. In 2000, his family moved to Iowa. He went to high schools in Iowa and Oklahoma. George decided to play college football at the University of Iowa.
His father, Bruce Kittle, was also a football player at Iowa. He was a co-captain of the 1982 Rose Bowl team. Bruce also coached college football. George's mother, Jan Krieger, is in the Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union Hall of Fame. She played softball and was an All-America basketball player at Drake University.
College Football Career
George Kittle played for the Iowa Hawkeyes from 2012 to 2016.
Starting Out at Iowa (2012-2014)
When George was a freshman, he didn't play much. There were many older tight ends on the team. He made his first college catch for 47 yards against Missouri State. In his first year, he caught five passes for 108 yards.
In 2014, George still had a small role. He only caught one pass for 25 yards all season.
Expanding His Role (2015-2016)
George's playing time grew in the 2015 season. He scored his first college touchdown against North Texas. It was a 43-yard catch from quarterback C. J. Beathard. That season, George caught 20 passes for 290 yards. He also scored six touchdowns. His six touchdowns were among the best in the Big Ten Conference.
In his senior year (2016), George was a top player at tight end. He had his best game against North Dakota State. He caught five passes for 110 yards. For the 2016 season, he caught 22 passes for 314 yards. He also scored four touchdowns.
Overall, during his college career, George Kittle caught 48 passes. He gained 737 yards and scored 10 touchdowns.
College Statistics
| Season | Team | GP | Receiving | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | |||
| 2012 | Iowa | 0 |  Redshirt |
|||
| 2013 | Iowa | 3 | 5 | 109 | 21.6 | 0 |
| 2014 | Iowa | 3 | 1 | 25 | 25.0 | 0 |
| 2015 | Iowa | 10 | 20 | 290 | 14.5 | 6 |
| 2016 | Iowa | 9 | 22 | 314 | 14.3 | 4 |
| Career | 25 | 48 | 737 | 15.4 | 10 | |
Professional Football Career
George Kittle was seen as a top tight end before the NFL draft. He was invited to the NFL Scouting Combine. This is where players show off their skills to NFL teams. Experts thought he would be picked in the third or fourth round.
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand size | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 3+3⁄4 in (1.92 m) |
247 lb (112 kg) |
33+1⁄8 in (0.84 m) |
9+1⁄4 in (0.23 m) |
4.52 s | 1.51 s | 2.65 s | 4.55 s | 7.00 s | 38.5 in (0.98 m) |
11 ft 0 in (3.35 m) |
18 reps | |
| All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day | ||||||||||||
Joining the San Francisco 49ers (2017)
The San Francisco 49ers picked George Kittle in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL draft. He was the 146th player chosen. He joined his college teammate, C. J. Beathard, on the 49ers. George signed a four-year contract worth about $2.69 million.
He became the starting tight end for the 49ers right away. In his first NFL game, he caught five passes for 27 yards. On October 8, 2017, he caught his first NFL touchdown. He finished his first season with 43 catches for 515 yards and two touchdowns. He played in 15 games.
Breaking Records (2018)
In 2018, George Kittle had an amazing season. In Week 4, he had an 82-yard touchdown catch. He gained 125 yards in that game. In Week 14, he set a new team record for tight ends. He gained 210 receiving yards in just the first half! He also became the first 49ers tight end to gain over 1,000 receiving yards in a season.
In the last game of the season, George broke the NFL record for most receiving yards by a tight end in one season. He finished with 1,377 yards. He was chosen for his first Pro Bowl. Other players ranked him 29th among the top 100 NFL players of 2019.
All-Pro Season (2019)
.jpg)
George Kittle started the 2019 season very strong. He had the highest overall grade of any NFL player from Pro Football Focus. In Week 5, he scored his first touchdown of the season. He caught six passes for 70 yards in a 31–3 win.
Later, he had eight catches for 103 yards against the Rams. He missed two games due to a knee injury. When he returned, he caught six passes for 129 yards and a touchdown. In Week 14, he made a huge 39-yard catch that helped the 49ers win a close game. He was face-masked during the play but kept going.
George was chosen for his second Pro Bowl. He was also named a First Team All-Pro for his great season. In Super Bowl LIV, he caught four passes for 36 yards. The 49ers lost the game. NFL players ranked him 7th among the top 100 players of 2020.
Dealing with Injuries (2020-2021)
In 2020, George signed a big five-year, $75 million contract. This made him the highest-paid tight end in the league. He missed some games due to a knee injury. When he returned, he had 183 receiving yards and a touchdown against the Eagles. He later broke a bone in his foot and was out for more games. He finished the 2020 season with 48 catches for 634 yards and two touchdowns. He played in only eight games.
In 2021, George was again placed on injured reserve with a calf injury. He returned in November and had a great game with 101 yards and a touchdown. In Week 13, he had 181 yards and two touchdowns. The next week, he had 151 yards and one touchdown. He was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week. He finished the 2021 season with 71 catches for 910 yards and six touchdowns. He earned his third Pro Bowl nomination. He also scored his first playoff touchdown.
More Touchdowns and Pro Bowls (2022-2024)
In 2022, George Kittle set a new personal best with 11 touchdowns. He missed the first two weeks with a groin injury. He connected well with the 49ers' third quarterback, Brock Purdy. He had two touchdowns in back-to-back games. He finished the season with 60 catches for 765 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was chosen for his fourth Pro Bowl. This tied a team record for tight ends.
In 2023, George reached 400 career catches in only 84 games. This was the fastest for a 49ers player. In Week 5, he scored three touchdowns against the Cowboys. He was selected for his fifth Pro Bowl, breaking the team record for tight ends. He also earned First Team All-Pro honors again. He finished the 2023 season with 65 catches for 1,020 yards and six touchdowns. He played in Super Bowl LVIII but got injured during the game.
In the 2024 season, George continued to perform well. He had two touchdowns in a win over the Seahawks in Week 6. He also had a 128-yard game with a touchdown against the Cowboys. In Week 14, he gained 151 yards. He finished the 2024 season with 78 catches for 1,106 yards and eight touchdowns. He earned his sixth Pro Bowl honor.
NFL Career Statistics
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2017 | SF | 15 | 7 | 43 | 515 | 12.0 | 44 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | SF | 16 | 16 | 88 | 1,377 | 15.6 | 85T | 5 | 1 | 10 | 10.0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | SF | 14 | 14 | 85 | 1,053 | 12.4 | 61T | 5 | 5 | 22 | 4.4 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2020 | SF | 8 | 8 | 48 | 634 | 13.2 | 44T | 2 | 2 | 17 | 8.5 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | SF | 14 | 14 | 71 | 910 | 12.8 | 48 | 6 | 3 | 20 | 6.7 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 2022 | SF | 15 | 15 | 60 | 765 | 12.8 | 54T | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2023 | SF | 16 | 16 | 65 | 1,020 | 15.7 | 66T | 6 | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | SF | 15 | 15 | 78 | 1,106 | 14.2 | 43 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 113 | 105 | 538 | 7,380 | 13.7 | 85T | 45 | 12 | 71 | 5.9 | 18 | 0 | 4 | 2 | |
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2019 | SF | 3 | 3 | 8 | 71 | 8.9 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | SF | 3 | 3 | 7 | 108 | 15.4 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | SF | 3 | 3 | 10 | 164 | 16.4 | 31 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | SF | 3 | 3 | 8 | 112 | 14.0 | 32 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 12 | 12 | 33 | 455 | 13.8 | 32 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
NFL Records and Achievements
George Kittle holds several impressive NFL records:
- Most receiving yards in one half by a tight end: 210 yards.
- First tight end to lead the league in yards gained after catching the ball: 870 yards.
- Most receiving yards in his first three seasons as a tight end: 2,945 yards.
- First tight end to have at least 150 receiving yards and one touchdown in two games in a row.
San Francisco 49ers Team Records
He also holds many records for the 49ers team:
- Most receiving yards in a season by a tight end: 1,377 yards.
- Most receiving yards in a single game by a tight end: 210 yards.
- Most catches in a season by a tight end: 88 catches.
- First tight end on the team to gain over 1,000 receiving yards in a season.
- Fastest 49ers player to reach 400 career catches: in just 84 games.
- Most career Pro Bowl selections by a tight end for the team: 5 times.
Personal Life
George Kittle married Claire Till on April 9, 2019. They met at the University of Iowa, where Claire played basketball. George has said he has been a big fan of the Chicago Bears football team since he was a kid.
George's sister, Emma, is married to Cody Ponce, who is a baseball player.
George Kittle loves professional wrestling. His favorite wrestler is Penta, and he often uses Penta's "Cero Miedo" (which means "No Fear" in Spanish) move when he gets a first down in a game. When the 49ers played in Mexico City in 2022, Penta gave George a special 49ers-themed lucha mask.
See also
In Spanish: George Kittle para niños
