49ers franchise tight end shares a positive outlook on injury-filled season and the future of the team.
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle isn’t dwelling on what could have been. Instead, the veteran star is focusing on the bigger picture after a season that tested the team’s depth, resilience, and long-term outlook.
Despite a wave of injuries to key players, Kittle believes the 49ers proved they remain firmly in contention.
Reflecting on the year, Kittle emphasized just how much adversity the roster faced. “I missed the first couple of weeks. We lost Brock Purdy for several weeks. Then we lost Nick Bosa, Fred Warner and we still won 13 games,” he said. “Jeez Louise, boys— good job. Everyone told me it was a rebuilding year because we lost all these pieces. We didn’t have any money to spend on people in FA, and we figured out a way to win 13 games and go into Philadelphia and win a playoff game.”
For Kittle, those accomplishments speak volumes about the team’s culture and coaching stability.
San Francisco leaned heavily on younger contributors and role players stepping into larger responsibilities experience that could pay dividends heading into the upcoming season.
The All-Pro tight end made it clear that while the season had bright moments, the ultimate goal remains unchanged. “That’s pretty damn impressive and our goal every year is to win a Super Bowl— did we achieve that goal? No. But a lot of guys got a lot of good reps,” Kittle said.
He added that winning 13 games despite losing “five of their six most expensively paid players for an extended period of time is pretty awesome," grading the season “an A or B+, we’ll go with that.”
Injuries on both sides of the ball forced adjustments throughout the year, yet the 49ers still reached the postseason and even secured a playoff win.
That resilience has Kittle optimistic about what’s ahead if the roster returns healthier.
With a strong core still intact and valuable depth now battle-tested, Kittle’s outlook reflects quiet confidence.
The 49ers didn’t meet their championship standard last season, but if health cooperates, Kittle clearly believes San Francisco remains very much in the Super Bowl conversation.
Kittle himself will likely not be back in the red and gold until the start of 2026, and even that is a tall task.
While he is poised to target a Week 1 return, it may be unlikely that the 49ers franchise star suits up until about Week 3 or 4.