San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle had a historic performance against the Denver Broncos in Week 14, setting a new franchise record and barely missing out on an all-NFL record too.
"It's what he's doing after the catch," head coach Kyle Shanahan told the media following the game. "He does a good job beating man coverage, he does a good job with his routes and he does a great job with his blocking. But when that ball is in the air, the play has just started. ... He runs angry and confidently."
Kittle finished with 210 yards on seven receptions and the touchdown. All in the first half.
"I don't think he gets enough credit for how athletic he is," cornerback Richard Sherman continued.
Ironically, those numbers would be all Kittle would get over the rest of the game. And as the game wore on into the fourth quarter, it became apparent Kittle had a realistic shot at beating another record -- a 2002 accolade set by then-Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe, who had 214 receiving yards in a single game that year.
That remains the record for tight ends in a single game. And Kittle admitted he didn't know about it until the fourth quarter. Neither did quarterback Nick Mullens.
"George had one heck of a day, four yards short of the record," Mullens told the media of his teammate barely missing the mark. "You can blame that on me, I guess."
Kittle took it in stride, however, admitting Shanahan even apologized for not getting the second-year pro more targets in the second half.
"Next time," Kittle joked about having a shot to break the record again.
The 49ers offense fell flat a bit in the second half, as the Broncos managed to score 14 unanswered points after halftime. Fortunately, the Niners defense managed to hold off a number of Denver fourth-down attempts late to ensure they'd come away with the Week 14 victory.
In the end, however, Kittle's record was easily the most impressive feat.
"It's an honor," Kittle answered when asked about breaking Davis' record with the 49ers. "Vernon Davis was one heck of a tight end who played here for 11 years. He set the standard."
Now Kittle owns that standard.
Written By:
Peter Panacy has been writing about the 49ers since 2011 for outlets like Bleacher Report, Niner Noise, 49ers Webzone, and is occasionally heard as a guest on San Francisco's 95.7 FM The Game and the Niners' flagship station, KNBR 680. Feel free to follow him, or direct any inquiries to his Twitter account.
All articles by Peter Panacy
Peter Panacy
Peter Panacy has been writing about the 49ers since 2011 for outlets like Bleacher Report, Niner Noise, 49ers Webzone, and is occasionally heard as a guest on San Francisco's 95.7 FM The Game and the Niners' flagship station, KNBR 680. Feel free to follow him, or direct any inquiries to his Twitter account.
All articles by Peter Panacy
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers injury update: John Lynch addresses George Kittle's status for Bears game
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch joined Bay Area radio station KNBR on Friday. He discussed the status of tight end George Kittle, who is recovering from an ankle injury suffered Monday night against the Indianapolis Colts. The setback has put Kittle's... -
49ers injury updates: George Kittle misses third straight practice ahead of Bears game
The San Francisco 49ers held their final practice before Sunday night's matchup against the Chicago Bears, and tight end George Kittle remained absent for a third consecutive day. Kittle injured his ankle on Monday night against the Indianapolis Colts, and his availability for... -
49ers vs. Bears injury update: George Kittle remains a game-day decision
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle did not practice this week as the team prepares for its Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears, leaving his status up in the air heading into Sunday. Despite the lack of on-field work, the 49ers remain optimistic that the All-Pro... -
49ers vs. Colts injury updates: George Kittle, Tatum Bethune exit the game
The San Francisco 49ers are facing the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Week 16. Below are the latest in-game injury updates for the 49ers. This article will be updated in real time as new information becomes available. Players are listed in order of most recent...