The San Francisco 49ers have officially locked up their All-Pro tight end, George Kittle, announcing the signing on Friday. The five-year extension is reportedly worth up to $75 million.
The contract details were first reported on Thursday morning by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network and the Pardon My Take podcast.
General manager John Lynch issued the following statement:
"We are thrilled to have reached an agreement with George to keep him in red and gold well into the future. George was part of our first draft class and represents as well as anyone the core values we covet in the players we build our team with. His talent and spirit are unique, his will and grit contagious and his production undeniable. We can't wait to see what the future holds for George and our team with him a part of it."
Lynch posted the following photo of Kittle and himself shortly after the tight end put pen to paper.
It's official. Congratulations to @gkittle46 and his family. He earned this. Thanks to @JedYork and the entire York family. Great day for the Niners......now let's go get it. pic.twitter.com/lttw2yZVpp
— John Lynch (@JohnLynch49ers) August 14, 2020
Kittle's official statement was lengthier. Here is what the tight end, now signed through the 2025 season, had to say:
"I would first like to express my gratitude and appreciation to the entire 49ers organization, especially the York family, who made all of this possible. To John Lynch and the staff who selected me in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft, I want to say thank you for giving me this opportunity. I love being a 49er and am blessed to have the opportunity to wear red and gold for years to come. I can't wait to continue our quest to bring another Super Bowl back to The Bay.
"I want to thank my teammates for their hard work and help in making me be the best teammate, player and man I can be each week. Together we have already accomplished amazing things, but we all know there is still so much more to do. It's an incredible locker room to be a part of and I am grateful to my brothers for making this such a fun and exciting place to play football.
"Thanks to my coaches and the management team. Coach Embree has helped me in so many ways, as a player and as a man. I will always be grateful to him for all he has done and he continues to do. Thanks to Coach Shanahan for making this such a rewarding place to play. I am thrilled that we will chase our ultimate goal together.
"I want to thank my family – my wife, Claire, my parents, Bruce and Jan, and my sister, Emma – for their unwavering support throughout my life and career. I thank you for the unconditional love that you provide every single day and it motivates me to be the best person I can be.
"Also, a big thank you to my agent, Jack Bechta, along with Ryan Hayes. Jack has been preparing me and my family for these negotiations for the past year, and we felt well informed and confident throughout the entire process. He has done a great job advocating on my behalf and helped secure a contract that protects me and my family. I appreciate his hard work and dedication to such an important event in my life.
"Finally, to the greatest fans in the NFL - THANK YOU! Thank you for all your support in everything we do, for cheering us on no matter what and for always being FAITHFUL. I will continue to work for all of you as we make the 2020 season another success.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
The 49ers Communications staff provided the following rundown.
The 49ers originally selected Kittle (6-4, 250) in the fifth round (146th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft. Over the past three seasons, Kittle has appeared in 46 games (37 starts) and registered 216 receptions for 2,945 yards (13.6 average) and 12 touchdowns. He also started all three postseason games in which he appeared, adding eight receptions for 71 yards.
A two-time Associated Press All-Pro [First-Team (2019) & Second-Team (2018)] and Pro Bowl (2019-20) selection, Kittle set the NFL record for the most receiving yards by a tight end through their first three seasons in NFL history (2,945 receiving yards). He is also tied for the third-fastest tight end to reach 2,000 yards in NFL history (33 games). In 2018, Kittle set the NFL record for the most receiving yards in a single season by a tight end (1,377).
In 2019, Kittle started 14 games and registered 85 receptions for a team-high 1,053 yards and five touchdowns in the regular season to go along with eight receptions for 71 yards in the postseason. He became the fifth player in franchise history, and the first tight end, to post multiple 1,000-yard receiving seasons.
In addition to his All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors, Kittle has been named to the Pro Football Writers of America's All-NFL Team (2019) and All-NFC Team (2018-19). In 2019, he was the recipient of the San Francisco 49ers Len Eshmont Award, which is selected by the players and is given each year to the 49ers player who best exemplifies the "inspirational and courageous play" of Len Eshmont, a member of the original 1946 49ers team. Kittle was also the 2018 recipient of the team's Bill Walsh Award, which is given to the 49er who has best represented the standard of professional excellence established by Walsh.
