Tight end George Kittle is widely regarded as one of the most optimistic voices in the San Francisco 49ers locker room. That positive mindset remains steadfast, even as the team faces playoff elimination with five games left in the season.
The 49ers still have a shot at winning the NFC West, but that goal feels increasingly out of reach unless their play drastically improves. The team has dropped three consecutive games, with the last two being blowout losses, falling to a 5-7 record.
Following Thursday's practice, Kittle shared his motivational message to teammates as they prepare to host the Chicago Bears this weekend.
"All I think about, and what my message to guys is that, 'Look, everything's still in front of us,'" Kittle confidently shared. "And just flush the things that have happened. Don't worry about what has happened in the past.
"Flush it, try to be your best self, and just move forward because we still have a lot of great players on this team that can all make really special plays. And all it takes is a spark to get the boys going, and then after that, we'll see what can happen."
Kittle acknowledged that each defeat this season is more difficult given the high expectations the 49ers had entering the season. Once considered Super Bowl contenders, they are now fighting to claw back into the playoff race, leaving little margin for error.
"It's hard on you. It's a grind," Kittle said. "But how I look at it is, while those games were horrible, and we can get better from those games, like watching, 'Hey, why are we so bad? Hey, why are we negative three in the turnover column?' You can take from that and get better."
Heading into Sunday's matchup, the 49ers must draw on that type of optimism to emerge with a win and turn things around.
Does George Kittle see any similarities between the 2017 49ers and the 2024 49ers? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/W0rEADQg19
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) December 5, 2024