Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Mike McGlinchey calls George Kittle the ‘most-complete football player,’ says entire 49ers locker room is ecstatic for him
Aug 14, 2020 at 6:45 AM
•
Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
finally got paid and secured his long-term future with the San Francisco 49ers. His teammates could not be happier to have football's best tight end locked up for years to come. That includes offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey, who joined KNBR on Thursday night and discussed
Kittle's massive five-year contract extension.
"Every single person in this locker room is ecstatic for him," McGlinchey told Mark Willard. "I don't know that I've ever been around a teammate or a player that's more deserving of something like this than George. The way that he works, the person that he is, the leader that he is, and the energy that he brings to our team every single day that he's here is a testament to what he has become in not only our team, but the league.
"George is deserving of every single penny that he gets, and he's earned that through hard work, dedication, and being a great teammate.
"Obviously, I think he's one of the best football players, not just tight ends. I hate that they all say that George is breaking the tight end market. I get that he's a tight end, but he's the most-complete football player that I've seen on tape in the last two years. And for him to have this kind of recognition of that success, and the person and the leader that he is, we couldn't be happier and couldn't be prouder of him."
It isn't just Kittle's ability to haul in passes or shed defenders for significant gains that have earned him the reputation of being the league's best tight end. Kittle is also a valuable run-blocker, willing to put his body on the line and do whatever is asked of him. He excels at it, too.
While Kittle's Pro Football Focus run-block grade of 78.2 ranks third (behind Maxx Williams and Dallas Goedert) among qualifying tight ends, his 94.4 overall and 94.3 receiving grades (including playoffs) topped all NFL players.
"Our offense goes as he goes," McGlinchey continued. "A lot of the things that we're able to do out on the edges and out in space, a lot of teams just can't fathom doing that because they don't have the players that we do. And we're very fortunate that everything we do starts through setting the edges, and gaining gaps on people, and being quick off the ball in the run game, and George embraces that mentality better than anybody out there.
"He is a tight end, he likes to catch the ball, and likes to set the yards records of tight ends in the history of the NFL, but he would consider himself a blocker first. And that's why he is who he is. And that's why he's had the success that he's had. It's because he does the things that no one else is willing to do."
You can listen to the entire conversation with McGlinchey below.
Facebook Comments
More San Francisco 49ers News
George Kittle hopes 49ers offense can 'take another step forward'
George Kittle recently spoke with ESPN during the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, where he joined other NFL stars for the golfing event. Of course, the conversation shifted toward football, with Laura Rutledge asking Kittle to reflect on the team's 2023 season, its Super Bowl defeat, and the motivation it provides for the upcoming season.
The tight end believes San Francisco maintained a competitive roster this offseason and is gearing up for another run at a championship. He emphasized the importance of maintaining good health and continual improvement for a successful upcoming season.
"Brock Purdy is a fantastic quarterback, and he's only going to get better because he's young," Kittle said. "And we were fortunate enough to be able to keep our entire
49ers insider believes team may prefer WR Brandon Aiyuk play on fifth-year option
The San Francisco 49ers don't always do things like other NFL teams do. But they are consistent, for the most part. Seemingly every offseason, especially in recent years, a star player has wanted a new contract. From TE George Kittle and LB Fred Warner to WR Deebo Samuel and Edge Nick Bosa, the 49ers have given new contracts, but they have waited until late July-early August (and in Bosa's case—September) to do so, much to the chagrin of those players, who wanted their new deal sooner rather than later.
It may not have happened as soon as the players wanted it to, but it has happened. Kittle's contract talks reportedly weren't as smooth as he might have hoped, Samuel famously scrubbed his social media accounts of all things 49ers, and Bosa didn't sign until a few days
Ctrl+Z: 4 key decisions 49ers might "undo" if given the chance
No one is perfect. Each of us makes mistakes. I do for sure. Peruse your way through the many articles I've written for 49ers Webzone and you'll see plenty of mistakes. Whether it's a typo or some prediction I offered that didn't go as I had thought.
The San Francisco 49ers are no different. John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan have made their share of mistakes. Fortunately for all of us, they hit on more than they miss. But I wonder if we were able to catch them in a moment of complete transparency if they might admit to wanting to hit the Ctrl+Z and "undo" some moves.
I doubt they will admit to such mistakes anytime soon, but fear not—I'm here to do it for them. Yes, I could write on the best decisions
49ers express pre-draft interest in Oklahoma D-lineman Jonah Laulu
Justin Melo of The Draft Network reports that the San Francisco 49ers expressed interest in Jonah Laulu, meeting with the defensive lineman at Oklahoma's pro day on March 12.
Melo notes that Laulu is versatile enough to play defensive end or defensive tackle on an NFL defense, making him an intriguing prospect for the 49ers, who value players who can fill multiple roles.
.@OU_Football DL Jonah Laulu is versatile enough to play as a base DE or within the interior.Former Hawaii transfer, Laulu met with
