The San Francisco 49ers announced on Friday that they have signed All-Pro TE George Kittle on a five-year contract extension through the 2025 season.
“We are pleased to have reached an agreement with George to keep him in red and gold in the future,” said General Manager John Lynch. “George was part of our first concept class and represents as everyone else the core values we desire in the players with whom we build our team. His talent and spirit are unique, his will and grit infectious and his production unintentional. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for George and our team with him. “
The 49ers originally selected Kittle (6-4, 250) in the fifth round (146th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft. In the past three seasons, Kittle has appeared in 46 games (37 starts) and recorded 216 receptions for 2,945 yards (13.6 average) and 12 touchdowns. He also started all three postseason games in which he appeared, adding eight receptions for 71 yards.
A two-time Associated Press All-Pro [First-Team (2019) & Second-Team (2018)] and Pro Bowl (2019-20) selection, Kittle sets the NFL record for most receiving yards by a tight end through her first three seasons in NFL history (2,945 receiving yards). He is also tied for the third-fastest tight end to reach 2,000 yards in NFL history (33 games). In 2018, Kittle set the NFL record for the most receiving yards in a single season by a tight end (1,377).
In 2019, Kittle started 14 games and recorded 85 receptions for a team-high 1,053 yards and five touchdowns in the regular season to go along with eight receptions for 71 yards in the postseason. He became the fifth player in franchise history, and the first tight end, to place multiple 1,000-yard receiving seasons.
In addition to his All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors, Kittle has been named to the Pro Football Writers of America’s All-NFL Team (2019) and All-NFC Team (2018-19). In 2019, he was the recipient of the San Francisco 49ers Len Eshmont Award, which is selected by the players and is given annually to the 49ers player who is Len Eshmont’s’ best inspiration and brave playwright, a member of the original 1946 team 49ers. Kittle was also the 2018 recipient of the team’s Bill Walsh Award, given to the 49er who best represented the standard of professional excellence established by Walsh.
