The 49ers have been this close. TWICE! Two Super Bowls in five years, both losses to the Chiefs. UFF! So, now that KC got shut down by the Eagles in SB LIX, you know San Francisco wasn’t letting them off easy. George Kittle certainly isn’t. He’s been watching, analyzing, and—true to his nature—speaking his mind.

“If the Super Bowl showed anything,” Kittle told the USA Today, “if you have a really good offensive line and a really good defensive line, it doesn’t matter what the other team has. It just doesn’t matter.” That’s not just a hot take—it’s the 49ers’ offseason mission statement. Because for all their talent, they couldn’t even get the taste of this season’s postseason football. Especially after getting to the February-ball last season. Be honest: didn’t you think they were the favorites to get that ring? But Kittle knows exactly why they did not.

The George Kittle blueprint: build the trenches… Win the war!

Kittle wants the 49ers to dominate the line of scrimmage—plain and simple. He’s calling for bulldozers on offense and wrecking balls on defense. The 49ers are sitting at pick No. 11 in the 2025 NFL Draft, and he’s practically begging the front office to use it on a lineman.

“Let’s line up the best five offensive guys on the line with a tight end, and let’s run the hell out of the football and protect,” he said. That’s Kittle-speak for: Get Brock Purdy a clean pocket, and let Christian McCaffrey cook. And if the defense adds another beast next to Nick Bosa and Leonard Floyd? “Let Fred Warner run free out there, and put less pressure on our DBs.” Sounds simple.

But will the front office buy in? For starters, the 49ers have the cap space—and no excuses.

Here’s the good news: San Francisco is getting a $45.9 million boost in cap space. The NFL salary cap is set to hit $281.5 million in 2025, and the 49ers are already sitting on $336.6 million in adjusted cap space after rollovers and adjustments. That’s enough flexibility to make real moves—if they play it right.

However, they’re currently at $290.7 million in total salary and dead money, which means they have room to maneuver. Restructuring contracts, cutting underperforming veterans, or front-loading extensions could free up even more cash. Bottom line? If they want to build Kittle’s trenches, they can.

So, you might be wondering: who should the Niners target? That’s a good question. But if the front office takes Kittle’s advice, here are the names to watch:

Offensive Line targets:

• Draft: Will Campbell (LSU) or Josh Simmons (Ohio State) could be plug-and-play starters.
• Free Agency: Trey Smith (Chiefs) and Teven Jenkins (Bears) would add muscle in the trenches.

Defensive Line Targets

• Draft: Abdul Carter (Penn State) or Mason Graham (Michigan) would wreak havoc alongside Bosa.
• Free Agency: Milton Williams (Eagles) and Levi Onwuzurike (Lions) could be smart veteran additions.

The 49ers could get cute and target skill players, but that’s not what Kittle wants. And frankly, it’s not what they need. They’ve got the weapons. They need the muscle.

George Kittle wants the wins and the Niners need him!

George Kittle has never been about just showing up. He’s about dominating. So, after the recent Super Bowl showdown, he believes that Niners can do it too. That’s fine, and to be honest, Kyle and Co. need someone who’s after the small and big Ws. That’s Kittle… But there’s another question looming—one that fans don’t want to think about. Will their #85 still be around to see this team finish the job?

So, here’s the scene for you. He’s entering the final year of his contract, set to earn $14.4 million in 2025. That’s a bargain for a player who just put up 1,106 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, making his sixth Pro Bowl in eight seasons.

Basically, the man is the heartbeat of this offense. But not just that. If need be, he blocks like an extra lineman while moving like a wideout. Cutting to the chase: he brings an energy that keeps this team from falling flat. But with a $22 million cap hit, the front office has decisions to make.

The good news? The cap is shooting up to $281.5 million, and with Deebo Samuel’s future in question, San Francisco could free up space. Tight ends aren’t breaking the bank either—Travis Kelce, the highest-paid at the position, makes just $17 million per year. So if the 49ers want Kittle around, they can make it happen. The real question is, do they see him as part of the long-term vision?

Kittle does. “I want to be a Niner for my entire career,” he said in January. “I love wearing the red and gold. And whatever the front office wants to do, I’m all ears.” That’s the kind of loyalty you can’t buy. But the NFL is a business, and if the 49ers don’t lock him up now, they risk losing a leader, and a risk of falling down back to square one.