Now that Kittle is taken care of, it is time for Purdy watch.
All-Pro tight end George Kittle has inked a lucrative contract extension with the San Francisco 49ers that will earn him $76.4 million over the next four years.
The deal, initially reported by FanDuel’s “Bussin’ With The Boys,” comes with $40 million guaranteed, including a $35 million signing bonus, and will make him the NFL’s highest-paid tight end. The Niners confirmed the signing Tuesday morning.
Kittle was a no-show for the start of the team’s voluntary workouts last week, fueling speculation that he was holding out for a new contract. However, he was in attendance alongside his teammates on Friday, an indication that talks had heated up and taken a positive turn.
The eight-year veteran will have the four additional years tacked onto his existing contract, potentially keeping him in ‘Bay Area’, San Francisco through the 2029 season.
“In 2017, our first year with the 49ers, we selected a skinny tight end from Iowa whom we were really excited about. We had high hopes, but no one knew that he would become the player that he is today,” Niners GM John Lynch said in a statement.
“George’s leadership, enthusiasm for the game, for his teammates, and the Faithful are truly unique and special. He is an outstanding representation for the 49ers on the field and is an outstanding representative for the organization off the field with his investment in the local and military communities. He has a great sense of pride in his role and has put in the work to be one of the best tight ends in the NFL.”
Kittle, 31, had promised to keep grinding and playing “until the wheels fall off,” in a position to play his entire career with the team that selected him with a fifth-round pick.
“My goal is to wear the red and gold my entire career,” Kittle told ESPN on January 5.
Even if the extension does not guarantee that it will happen, it undoubtedly gives Kittle a strong chance to reach a more short-term goal: joining the 49ers’ 10-year club. That exclusive club honors players who have played at least 10 consecutive seasons in San Francisco and includes 51 players since the team’s inception 79 years ago in 1946. The club has not added any new members since tackle Joe Staley in 2017.
Embed from Getty ImagesKittle will be entering his ninth season in 2025, meaning he would need to just play one of the additional years added to his deal to secure his spot and be the next member. It is something Kittle called “a huge goal of mine.”
In 2024, Kittle ranked third among tight ends in receiving yards (1,106), tied for second in touchdowns (eight) and was first in yards per reception (14.2) while continuing to be a key blocker in the 49ers running game. That production landed him his sixth Pro Bowl selection and another All-Pro honor, second team, his fifth nod on the first or second All-Pro teams.
Kittle also became one of five tight ends in league history to have four or more 1,000-yard receiving seasons, alongside Travis Kelce (seven), Rob Gronkowski, Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten (four each). He also surpassed Gronkowski for the second-most receiving yards by a tight end in his first eight seasons in the NFL (7,380), trailing only Kelce.
“[He’s] better with time,” linebacker Fred Warner said. “Like fine wine. He’s doing a heck of a job. He’s always been great, but the fact that he’s making the plays that he’s making right now at this point in his career has been phenomenal.”
With the Kittle extension complete, the Niners will now turn their attention to completing a new deal with quarterback Brock Purdy.
