San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle was everywhere during the week leading up to the Super Bowl. He was a brand ambassador for Skittles and went on the radio, television, and podcasts that week to discuss the tasty candy.
It seemed like you could not escape Kittle during the week. When I would write up a story about what the tight end said during some interview, another one would seemingly pop up out of nowhere. It was like a Kittle bombardment, which means he did his job.
Kittle isn't getting sidetracked by his newfound fame after setting a new NFL single-season record for receiving yards by a tight end. He is already laser-focused on preparing for the 49ers' offseason program.
Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle caught up with 49ers star via a phone call and learned that Kittle's agency actually had another promotional opportunity lined up after the one with Skittles and another with Visa. You would think Kittle, who has just two years of NFL experience and is working under a four-year rookie contract which pays him an average of just under $675,000 a season, would jump at the opportunity to earn more money.
Another of the top tight ends in the NFL, Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs, earns an average salary nearly 14 times Kittle's. He only ranks second all-time in single-season receiving yards by a tight end. Kelce did hold the record for about 30 minutes until Kittle surpassed him.
Kittle turned down the new promotional opportunity. Why? Because he is dedicated to training for the 2019 season.
"Kittle's agency had another promotional opportunity lined up, but Kittle declined it to begin his six-day-a-week program that includes speed, agility, strength and route-running work with a group of NFL players that includes 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard," wrote Branch.
Kittle also plans to spend some time with and learn as much as he can from 2019 Hall of Fame inductee Tony Gonzalez. His tight ends coach, Jon Embree, set up the meeting.
"Any piece of advice I can take from him, whether that's better ways to catch the ball, just tips on routes, just on reading safeties, whatever it can be, I'm going to absorb it like a sponge and hopefully take it into OTAs and next season," Kittle said on 95.7 The Game in January.