George Kittle is eager to be a Niner for life, and the San Francisco 49ers share that sentiment. Earlier this month, the All-Pro tight end revealed that he believes discussions about a potential contract extension between the team and his agent have occurred.
"Waiting on them," Kittle said ahead of the Super Bowl.
On Wednesday, 49ers general manager John Lynch addressed Kittle's contract status, offering insight into where the team stands on the matter.
"We've already talked about it," Lynch revealed. "We want George to retire a Niner. He's one of those guys. He's a Niner through and through. And so, we want that to become a reality.
"I think the only thing on that is timing, and that's no different from what I've told George and his agent. So, [there are] some other things that we're focused on, and George is certainly there. But I think that's something we want to all see become a reality, including George."
The 49ers are currently in contract talks with quarterback Brock Purdy, their top offseason priority. The team is also evaluating potential trade or release options for wide receiver Deebo Samuel. Once those matters are settled, attention can shift to players like Kittle.
Kittle is coming off another stellar season, surpassing 1,000 receiving yards for the fourth time in his career. He was Pro Football Focus' highest-graded tight end of the 2024 season, earning a 92.1 offensive grade—his highest since 2019.
When asked if the 49ers hope to resolve Kittle's contract situation this offseason, Lynch hesitated to commit but emphasized, "He has interest, we have interest."
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