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San Francisco 49ers tight end
George Kittle had a breakout season last year. He set an NFL single-season record for the most receiving yards by a tight end and embarrassed defenders with his league-leading 873 receiving yards after the catch, per Pro Football Focus.
Kittle won't be taking anyone by surprise this year. NFL defensive coordinators will make stopping or slowing him down a focus of their game plans.
Kittle welcomes the challenge and on Tuesday morning
shared on 95.7 The Game that he hopes defenses pay more attention to him.
"I hope they do," Kittle said on the "Joe, Lo and Dibs" show. "It gives me more challenges, things to look at, and that's fun. I like challenges, and I think with the team we're getting together, we have the right guys on the team.
"If they focus more on me, Marquise (Goodwin) can run down the middle of the field, running a 4.15. Hey, he can get all the yards for all I care. As long as we start winning games, I'm happy."
Half of Kittle's impressive 2018 campaign came as the tight end dealt with a rib injury. He ended up starting all 16 games last season, and said those ribs now feel "fantastic."
"I'm blessed," Kittle continued. "I get to play football in the NFL. I get paid to do it, so I just take advantage of every single day, whether it's ups or downs, losing games, or if you're hurt, I stay as positive as I can because, like I said, I get paid to play football, which is a dream of mine."
The 49ers kicked off phase one of their offseason program last week, which involves a lot of strength and conditioning work. Kittle and his teammates, however, are looking forward to getting back on the football field and producing some wins.
"One of the things that I've really noticed being back is guys really want to be here," Kittle said. "Everyone is 100 percent committed to being here, working out, getting better these first two weeks, excited. You've got a good atmosphere in the locker room.
"And you've got a lot of guys itching to play football. We haven't touched the field since December, and there were teams playing in February. We have missed football, and you kind of feel that around the locker room, and you've just got guys wanting to get back on the field. I think that's a very healthy spot for a team, and we're looking forward to getting back on the field."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Kittle below.
George Kittle recently spoke with ESPN during the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, where he joined other NFL stars for the golfing event. Of course, the conversation shifted toward football, with Laura Rutledge asking Kittle to reflect on the team's 2023 season, its Super Bowl defeat, and the motivation it provides for the upcoming season.
The tight end believes San Francisco maintained a competitive roster this offseason and is gearing up for another run at a championship. He emphasized the importance of maintaining good health and continual improvement for a successful upcoming season.
"Brock Purdy is a fantastic quarterback, and he's only going to get better because he's young," Kittle said. "And we were fortunate enough to be able to keep our entire
Brock Purdy isn't one to seek the spotlight. He exudes politeness, respect, and an even-keeled demeanor when speaking to reporters during interviews. Nothing we've seen from the San Francisco 49ers quarterback's time off the field would indicate that it's a facade.
However, on the field, Purdy can show some fire, particularly after a big play or in an effort to ensure his teammates are on the same page as him. While praising the third-year quarterback, one unnamed former NFL executive expressed a desire to see more of that fire from Purdy in the future, believing it is crucial to his development.
"Brock Purdy is one of the most talented arms that I've seen," the former executive recently
The San Francisco 49ers announced the signing of wide receiver Trent Taylor to a one-year deal, reuniting with the team's former fifth-round draft pick out of Louisiana Tech.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area was the first to report that the 49ers were discussing a potential reunion with Taylor. The receiver was part of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch's first draft class in 2017 and spent his first four NFL seasons with the team.
The #49ers are talking with free-agent slot receiver/return man
The San Francisco 49ers are hosting several draft prospects this week as the deadline for pre-draft visits draws near. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, the team will host former Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley on Wednesday.
Corley is expected to be a Day 2 pick. San Francisco owns two selections on Day 2—the No. 63 overall pick in the second round and the No. 94 overall pick in the third round. Currently, the receiver is visiting with the Seattle Seahawks.
Western Kentucky @WKUFootball receiver Malachi Worley
