Who is George Kittle?

George Kittle, born on 9 October 1993, plays as a tight end for the San Francisco 49ers. Drafted in 2017, he was selected in the fifth round of the NFL draft(146th overall). He has assisted the 49ers in paving their way to the Super Bowl LVIII with his stunning performance.

The tight end had a glorious year with 65 receptions, 1,020 receiving yards, and six touchdowns. He's also ranked 22nd on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2022 and was a First-Team All-Pro in 2019 and 2023.

George Kittle's early life and background

George Kittle was born in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. His parents are Bruce Kittle, and Jan Krieger. Bruce Kittle is a former football coach who played for the University of Iowa. His mom, Jan Krieger, is a legend in the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union Hall of Fame. Not only did she play softball, but she also dominated basketball at Drake University, earning All-America honors. His sister, Emma Kittle, is also a professional volleyball player.

Having been born into a sporting family, Kittle couldn't help but carry on these athletic genes. Currently, George Kittle is one of the best tight ends in the franchise. But initially, he faced struggles in his college career. He attended the University of Iowa, characterized by challenges and slow transformation. Kittle originally joined the football team as a low-recruit, not receiving a Division I scholarship offer until signing day in 2012. He even faced difficulty in getting versed in college norms, both academically and athletically.

He began to show his potential in his later years at Iowa. In 2013, his progress rate saw a massive increase when, despite being fifth on the department chart as a red-shirt freshman, his speed positively impacted the team's offense. A lifestyle change and commitment to growth were evident in his senior year when he became the key player for the Hawkeyes. This included improved run-blocking skills and massive physical development, which made him one of the best tight ends in the league. This has set the stage for his impressive NFL journey with the San Francisco 49ers.

       George Kittle's wife

George Kittle and his Wife, Claire Kittle, have been among the sweetest couples in NFL history. The duo started dating during their first year at the University of Iowa. Like George, Claire is also a sports enthusiast. She played basketball at Wahlert Catholic High School. At the University of Iowa, she played for the Hawkeyes all four years, averaging 1.6 points and 1.9 rebounds per game. The love birds first met in 2012 at the University of Iowa when the tight end was standing outside the dormitory and he saw Claire in the parking lot.

On August 10, 2018, the pro-tight end planned for a surprise proposal where Kittle planned to stage a perfect scene and cleverly told Claire that the 49ers staff were doing a photoshoot for NFL couples. However, a twist happened when George Kittle faced a minor hiccup when he injured his knee during a preseason game. Initially, Claire became suspicious, but George's mother took care of the matter by saying, " Claire, I know you might be thinking that he's going to propose, but I know that he isn't because the ring isn't ready yet."

George proposed to Claire at Santa Cruz's Twin Lakes State Beach. Later, they surprised their fans by tying the knot in April 2019, two years after their engagement, and George's father officiated the wedding. Claire has always been George's biggest supporter and was present at every game he played. Even when the San Francisco 49ers lost in the NFC championship round in 2022, Claire remained a source of unwavering love and motivation for George, encouraging him to move forward. Apart from that, Claire is also a bodybuilding enthusiast.

      George Kittle's net worth in 2024

George Kittle is one of the best tightened in the NFL. According to numerous sources, his net worth is approximately $20 million. He signed a five-year contract worth $75,000,000 with a signing bonus of $18,000,000 and a guaranteed bonus of $40,000,000, making his annual salary $15,000,000. Besides that, the tight end is also doing great in his brand portfolio.

Being a popular name in the NFL, George Kittle has signed endorsement deals with numerous brands, including Bud Light, Panda Express, Pennington Lawn, Adobe, Xbox, Sleep Number, Exmark Manufacturing, and Nike. He is even featured in a commercial ad for Zenni Optical, where he talked about the importance of vision in his career. Apart from that, the tight end, along with his parents, has also funded an online show named Hidden Pearls Podcast.

Kittle is a philanthropist who was involved in charity work in the past when he joined My Cause My Cleats campaign to extend his support to the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. They support families dealing with the loss of a military loved one. The TE donated over $10,000 to Operation Freedom Paws this season. They connect service dogs to people with disabilities.

          George Kittle career timeline

In college, George Kittle played as a tight end for the University of Iowa. He played as a tight end for the Iowa Hawkeyes under head coach Kirk Ferentz from 2012 to 2016. After that, he was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round (146th overall) of the 2017 NFL draft. Kittle made his first Super Bowl appearance in 2020, where his team lost against the Chiefs.

This season, he will be making his second Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl LVIII against the Kansas City Chiefs. In the NFC Championship round, they defeated the Lions as they clinched an unprecedented victory. Now, as the teams gear up for the biggest showdown, the recent update hints that the TE has been out of practice for three days because of his horrendous toe injury.

     George Kittle career stats and records

Kittle's journey at the University of Iowa was no less than a roller coaster ride. During the red shirt stage of his college, the tight end had limited participation. There, he took time to adjust to the collegiate environment. But, he hogged the spotlight with 47 yards against the Missouri State Bears. In the sophomore stage of 2014, the tight-end space remained crowded with experienced players, including Jake Duzey and Ray Hamilton. Kittle faced immense competition but still managed to shine through with a reception for 25 yards against Maryland.

During the 2015 season, a significant event occurred when he achieved two 43-yard receptions, which led him to rack up 290 receiving yards against North Texas. The following year, in 2016, he made headlines after completing five receptions for 110 yards against North Dakota State. Throughout his college career, he accumulated 48 receptions, 737 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns.

Since 2017, this tight end has made quite a name for himself in the NFL. In his rookie season, he recorded 515 yards. In 2019, he posted 1000 yards and led all tight ends in YAC and YPPR. However, in 2020, he had limited participation because of MCL and foot injuries. But, he bounced back in 2021, leading all TEs and playing 92.4 snaps. In 2022, he recorded 11 touchdowns and had a 13.4 fantasy per-point game.

During the 2023 regular season, this tight end set the record for the most receiving yards in his first three seasons, with 2,945 yards. He was also the first tight end to achieve at least 150 receiving yards and one touchdown in two straight games. In addition, he has been selected for the Pro Bowl five times throughout his career.

     George Kittle awards and achievements

• 2x First-team All-Pro (2019, 2023)


• 2X Second Team All-Pro (2018, 2022)


• 5X Pro Bowl (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023)

Also, Kittle came in at 7th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2020. In his game against the Denver Broncos, he exceeds 1000 receiving yards. His season-ending 1,377 yards even beat the records of Travis Kelce record for a single season.

Expensive Things owned by George Kittle

George Kittle purchased a property in Green Hills, Nashville, in May 2020, which spans about 75 acres and cost him $940,000. The property features a four-bedroom house and a six-hole golf course that Kittle established. Kittle got the idea to create the golf course while watching the Masters championship with his friends. The All-Pro Tightend owns some top-rated cars, ranging from the 1969 Ford Mustang with a top speed of 128mph to the Rolls-Royce Ghost, which featured a 6.75 liter V12 engine delivering over 540 horsepower. The car cost $311,900. He also owns the luxurious Range Rover sports car, which costs $209,990.

The TE was also spotted rocking a unique edition of classic Nike SB Dunks Lows.  He was even seen wearing Air Jordan 1 cleats and shoes for one of the playoff games of the San Francisco 49ers. Additionally, George Kittle was also captured wearing Chubbies exclusive T-shirts ever since he collaborated with them.

George Kittle's Hidden Pearl Podcast

George Kittle and his family host a digital show called the Hidden Pearl podcast. The podcast features George Kittle, his father, Bruce Kittle, and his sister, Emma Kittle. They discuss various topics, from philanthropy to football, and often invite famous NFL stars like Travis Kelce and Jimmy Garoppolo to join them on the show.

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