For the second consecutive week, San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle was not his usual self at the podium after a game. Last weekend, it was because of the frustration following a loss. This weekend, Kittle was extremely emotional because of what his Niners and college teammate and friend, C.J. Beathard, is going through.
The Beathard family was struck with tragedy on Saturday morning when C.J.'s younger brother, Clayton Beathard, was fatally stabbed outside of a Nashville bar. C.J. Beathard, obviously, was not on the sidelines on Saturday night to watch his teammates defeat the Los Angeles Rams 34-31. Instead, he left the Bay Area to be with his family during this heartbreaking time.
For the Beathard family ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Td26FyOEND
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) December 22, 2019
Kittle appeared heartbroken as well for his friend. He fought back the tears throughout his post-game press conference and describing Sunday's game as one of the toughest he's been in because of the emotions at play.
"First and foremost, I want to send my love to the Beathard family," Kittle said after he stepped to the podium. "Him and C.J., and just their whole family. Just a terrible thing to happen to such an incredible family and incredible person. I've known him for eight years, kind of a little brother to me, so that [win] was definitely for C.J. and that family, and I'm just so happy to get it done for them. Thank you."
Kittle went on to describe Clayton, calling him "a ball of positivity," and sharing how competitive he was.
"He was really just a positive light in the world, and it will not be a better place without him," the tight end said.
Added Kittle: "Today was absolutely terrible for me the entire day."
He paused for a moment to gather himself before continuing.
"Yeah, it just sucked all around," Kittle continued. "I got to talk to C.J. after the game. But yeah, overall, it was just kind of brutal day. But we got that one for C.J., and I'm so happy that we could do it."
Other 49ers players expressed their support of their teammate. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo sent a text to Beathard on Saturday as a show of that support.
"I think everybody in the locker room feels the same way for him," Garoppolo said. "I can't even comprehend the situation, but everyone's got his back, and we love him."
Cornerback Richard Sherman shared that Beathard's last words to Kyle Shanahan before departing on Saturday were said in tears as he told his coach to "just go out there and get the win."
"We feel for him," Sherman continued. "We're hurting, and we wanted to do everything we can to give him something positive. It's a terrible time, and I can't imagine what he's going through. I can't even fathom or try to even get there in my mind. But you hurt for him because you know that it's pain. You know that it's loss. And as a team, you try to do everything you can to comfort, to be there, and all we could do is win."
"It's devastating what happened to one of our brothers," defensive tackle DeForest Buckner said after the game. "I woke up this morning, and I found out, and it was just heart shaking."
Linebacker Fred Warner's locker sits right next to Beathard's, and the two have become close.
"I have a super-heavy heart for him, right now," Warner said. "I couldn't imagine being in that situation. We wanted to play this game for C.J., and my heart goes out to him. Trying to say a prayer or two for him. That's my guy."
Head coach Kyle Shanahan opened up his own post-game presser by immediately discussing his quarterback and the Beathard family.
"We've been with C.J. here for three years," Shanahan told reporters. "He's as good as any person I've been around. Their family is unbelievable. I never got a chance to meet Clay, but knowing how his parents are, knowing how C.J. is, knowing the stuff they've told me about him, he was an unbelievably special person.
"Just our hearts and prayers are out with them. His dad reached out to us on text just about how great everyone has been on social media and just the respect everyone has given their family and stuff, he can't appreciate it enough."
