It seemed like you could not escape Kittle during the week. When I would write up a story about what the tight end said during some interview, another one would seemingly pop up out of nowhere. It was like a Kittle bombardment, which means he did his job.
Kittle isn't getting sidetracked by his newfound fame after setting a new NFL single-season record for receiving yards by a tight end. He is already laser-focused on preparing for the 49ers' offseason program.
Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle caught up with 49ers star via a phone call and learned that Kittle's agency actually had another promotional opportunity lined up after the one with Skittles and another with Visa. You would think Kittle, who has just two years of NFL experience and is working under a four-year rookie contract which pays him an average of just under $675,000 a season, would jump at the opportunity to earn more money.
Another of the top tight ends in the NFL, Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs, earns an average salary nearly 14 times Kittle's. He only ranks second all-time in single-season receiving yards by a tight end. Kelce did hold the record for about 30 minutes until Kittle surpassed him.
Kittle turned down the new promotional opportunity. Why? Because he is dedicated to training for the 2019 season.
"Kittle's agency had another promotional opportunity lined up, but Kittle declined it to begin his six-day-a-week program that includes speed, agility, strength and route-running work with a group of NFL players that includes 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard," wrote Branch.
Kittle also plans to spend some time with and learn as much as he can from 2019 Hall of Fame inductee Tony Gonzalez. His tight ends coach, Jon Embree, set up the meeting.
"Any piece of advice I can take from him, whether that's better ways to catch the ball, just tips on routes, just on reading safeties, whatever it can be, I'm going to absorb it like a sponge and hopefully take it into OTAs and next season," Kittle said on 95.7 The Game in January.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
Fred Warner reflects on 49ers loss to Seahawks and missed opportunity
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner will now have additional time to fully recover from the dislocated and fractured right ankle he suffered just three months ago. There had been optimism that Warner could return as soon as next week if the 49ers advanced to the NFC... -
49ers vs. Eagles injury updates: George Kittle suffers Achilles injury
The San Francisco 49ers are facing the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field in a Wild Card playoff game. 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... -
Loss of George Kittle latest heartbreaker in 49ers' injury-plagued season
Just how much must San Francisco 49ers fans endure this season? The sight of All-Pro tight end George Kittle making a catch, going down near the sideline, and immediately grabbing his leg was the latest gut punch for the 49ers in what has been a brutal, injury-plagued 2025... -
49ers rally around George Kittle in playoff win over Eagles: 'We're going to play for him the rest of the way'
The San Francisco 49ers could have let George Kittle's second-quarter injury derail their Wild Card playoff matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. Instead, they rallied around their All-Pro tight end, fought through adversity, and pulled off a 23-19 road upset to...