San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has been connecting consistently with All-Pro tight end George Kittle throughout training camp. Since the start, the two have looked to be in midseason form, which bodes well for the 49ers' upcoming season. With uncertainty at wide receiver, the 49ers' offense will rely heavily on the Purdy-to-Kittle connection early in the season.
Purdy and Kittle spent significant time together this offseason. After signing a five-year, $265 million contract extension in May, Purdy even purchased a new home near Kittle in the Nashville area, ensuring that their friendship and on-field partnership continue to grow.
On the practice field, the duo works to break down plays and review their individual performances, ensuring they are in sync when Week 1 arrives.
"Yeah, I think, just overall, Kittle, he and I, we talk about almost every rep that we have—same with [RB] Christian [McCaffrey] and stuff," Purdy said on Thursday. "But where we could both get better, what to expect with that certain look. And obviously, going back to this offseason, we trained together every single day, and I think that really has paid off, just with timing, and where he needs to be, and us both trusting each other.
"But it is a blessing because he absolutely loves football. And when you get a guy that loves football and wants to talk about it 24/7, just like a quarterback does, there's nothing better."
When asked about the improvement in Purdy and Kittle's chemistry compared to last season—when Kittle recorded 1,106 receiving yards and eight touchdowns—head coach Kyle Shanahan offered a lighthearted response.
"Yeah, I've noticed Brock had a couple more Bud Lights lately," Shanahan said. "I think that's from Kittle. I'm just joking. Brock's not like that, but I think hanging out with Kittle's awesome. They got a lot more work in. But it's not necessarily stuff you see on the field. It's just cool to see guys get closer and just become more comfortable with each other.
"We've been here now, I think, three years, four years together, and you don't spend a lot of time with people like that in your whole life. So hopefully, it'll be four more."
The potential for longevity is there. Purdy isn't the only 49ers player to sign an extension this offseason. Kittle agreed to a four-year, $76.4 million contract extension, keeping him under contract with San Francisco through the 2029 season.
Purdy was also asked if he and Kittle ever struggle to avoid football talk in social settings. He praised his teammate for balancing football focus with team camaraderie, noting that Kittle works hard to bring the team together.
"Yeah, I think Kittle does a great job of mixing it up," Purdy said. "He loves football, he loves staying healthy in his career, and making the most of every opportunity that he has every year. And I think everyone sees that on a national level.
"But, he does a great job of joking around, making sure that we're all going to dinners, hanging out, and doing life outside of football—and that kind of stuff matters, I think, tremendously. It just builds nothing but trust, and we take that out on the field with each other.
"So, he does a good job with that—being a veteran. And he's done that since day one for me as a rookie, and he continues to do that with all the young guys still. So, shoutout Kittle."
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