As the San Francisco 49ers embark on another pivotal offseason, one potential contract situation flying under the radar involves their star tight end George Kittle. The 31-year-old quietly put together one of the best seasons of his career in 2024 despite the Niners’ offensive inconsistency. Now heading into the final year of his current deal, will the 49ers prioritize extending Kittle to keep him in red and gold for the long haul?
Kittle’s Stellar 2024 Campaign
Even with the 49ers missing many of their top weapons for large chunks of 2024, Kittle remained as reliable as ever. The veteran tight end racked up 1,106 receiving yards (2nd most in his career), 78 receptions (3rd most), and 8 touchdowns (tied-2nd most) while averaging a robust 14.2 yards per catch. His steady production in a tumultuous season earned Kittle his sixth Pro Bowl nod and fourth Second-Team All-Pro selection.
Chasing Franchise History
Kittle’s huge year also saw him break the 49ers all-time record for receiving yards by a tight end with 7,380. He now sits second behind only Travis Kelce for the most yards by a TE in their first eight seasons. Kittle also joined the exclusive club of tight ends with four or more 1,000-yard receiving seasons:
- Travis Kelce – 7
- George Kittle – 4
- Tony Gonzalez – 4
- Rob Gronkowski – 4
- Jason Witten – 4
If Kittle maintains this pace over the next few years in San Francisco, he would cement his status as an all-time great at the position and make a strong case for the Hall of Fame. But first, the 49ers need to ensure he remains a centerpiece of their offense beyond 2025.
Working Toward an Extension
Kittle is set to count $22M against the cap in 2025, a significant jump from his current hit. With the tight end market mostly stagnant since his record-setting $75M extension in 2020, the 49ers have some flexibility to rework his deal. Preliminary discussions have already begun according to Kittle, who reiterated his desire to be a “Niner for life”:
It’s always been until the wheels fall off. Or until my wife tells me to stop playing, which I’ll trust her on that one.
George Kittle on his NFL future
The 49ers would be wise to get an extension done sooner than later, both to free up 2025 cap space and to keep their offensive cornerstone happy. With Deebo Samuel’s future uncertain and other key free agents to account for, San Francisco can ill afford to let Kittle’s contract become a distraction.
The Bottom Line
George Kittle firmly established himself as the heart and soul of the 49ers in 2024. Even as he enters his age-32 season, the ultra-reliable veteran shows no signs of slowing down. While not the splashiest storyline of the offseason, the Niners would be wise to lock up Kittle long-term as they retool their roster in pursuit of a Super Bowl. Keeping their all-time great TE in the fold will go a long way toward maintaining offensive stability and competing for a title in the years to come.
