SANTA CLARA – George Kittle offered a blunt assessment of this year’s 49ers: “Ready to win. I’d say that’s the state of the franchise. We need to win now.”
Kittle staunchly said so Wednesday, a day after appearing with Brock Purdy and Nick Bosa at the 49ers’ once-public, now-private State of The Franchise event.
Each one of those guys could stake a claim as Face of the Franchise. Kittle, though, has been here longer than any current teammate aside from Kyle Juszczyk, who arrived in 2017 free agency a month before Kittle’s draft day.
Thus, Kittle carries clout when it comes to pontificating on the state of the franchise, the state of the NFL, and, most intimately, the state of his surgically repaired core after playing through injury the final three months last season.
Still searing is the pain of losing in the Super Bowl for the second time in five years.
“How I put it past me is I still wake up every day and I get to play football and I have another opportunity to go at it again this season,” said Kittle, a two-time First-Team All-Pro, a five-time Pro Bowler and the 49ers’ most prolific tight end ever.
“Unfortunately, I didn’t achieve the goal that I have to win a Super Bowl, but I have another opportunity to do it this year,” Kittle added. “Does that suck? Yeah. But the fact I have another opportunity with a fantastic football team and great roster, I’d love to bet on my team, figuratively speaking.”
That team is finishing up its seven-week, voluntary stage of offseason workouts. The mandatory minicamp is next week. Once the 49ers reconvene for training camp in two months, Kittle expects to be ready for action.
Three months ago, Kittle underwent core-muscle surgery in Palm Beach, Fla. with the same doctor (William Meyers) who performed a similar procedure a week earlier on cornerback Charvarius Ward.
“They had to reattach something differently for me than him. We’re both progressing at a good rate,” said Kittle, noting that an MRI in early November didn’t reveal the extent of his core’s damage.
Kittle still played every game last season – “fun stuff” — aside from sitting with others in the meaningless regular-season finale. He had 1,020 yards, 65 receptions and six touchdowns, not counting the playoffs where his lone score came in their opening comeback win over Green Bay.
In the Super Bowl, he made a 4-yard catch-and-lunge on fourth-and-3, keeping alive a go-ahead, fourth-quarter drive that culminated in a Purdy touchdown pass to Jauan Jennings (and Jake Moody’s blocked point-after attempt). Kittle had one other catch (for no gain), and he had to temporarily leave the field for part of the 49ers’ overtime possession of that loss to Kansas City.
“When you don’t achieve that one goal you really want to get to, it’s tough,” Kittle said. “I think back to Joe Staley playing in two Super Bowls, and didn’t win one; Garrett Celek played in two Super Bowls, didn’t win one. Just listening to them how hard it is, I get that now. I understand that by playing for seven years.”
He’s no less optimistic this year about the 49ers’ chances. He was struck, however, by how many new faces surrounded their superstar-laden core.
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One familiar face has returned: wide receiver Trent Taylor, one of Kittle’s best friends and a fellow 2017 fifth-round draft pick. Taylor has lived in Kittle’s South Bay home this month and they’ve carpooled to work for organized team activities, where Taylor is again impressing as a slot receiver and punt returner.
Kittle threw staunch support behind not only Taylor but a much different tight end group. Charlie Woerner and Ross Dwelley skipped town for Atlanta, so, while Kittle rehabilitates, the tight end reps are going to Brayden Willis, Eric Saubert, Jake Tonges and undrafted rookie Mason Pline; Cameron Latu is still rehabilitating last summer’s knee injury.
“My tight ends need as many reps as they can. These OTAs are huge for them,” Kittle said.
While the NFL Players Association pitched an idea this week to eliminate spring football in future years, count Kittle among those demanding a second bye week if the NFL pushes forth an 18-game schedule.
“Is the paycheck getting cut into 18 or are you getting more money? There’s a lot to discuss,” Kittle said. “I’m all for adding two byes to the season, because it adds an extra week to the season, regardless.
“I saw we’re talking about getting rid of spring football and just going into July, which I don’t disagree with, but I just hope they don’t take away my July 4th, because I really enjoy celebrating July 4th.”
