Despite winning just four games last season and 10 games over the past two years, there is a positive vibe in the 49ers locker room because the players know the team is headed in the right direction. Peter Schrager asked Kittle about the mentality in that locker room.
"Everyone is super positive all the time," Kittle said. "I think we had 19 guys on the IR last year which is really hard, but I think we're building. We have the right foundation. We've got Mike (McGlinchey) in last year's draft. We've got Dante Pettis. We have a lot of guys from my (draft) class that are stepping up.
"I feel like we're really going in the right direction. You throw in a guy like Jimmy (Garoppolo), you throw in Dee Ford, Kwon (Alexander), and then Joe Staley, who's the vet. He's incredible, and he brings everyone along with him. So every single day is really fun, and I'm just looking forward to getting back to work."
Saying Kittle had an impressive sophomore NFL campaign would be an understatement. He set a new NFL record for single-season receiving yards by a tight end after playing through an injury-plagued season the year before. The performance earned him his first Pro Bowl selection.
Kay Adams asked Kittle what went so right during his record-breaking season?
"A big part of it was I spent a lot of the offseason just really focused on getting healthy because I was banged up a lot my rookie year," Kittle responded. "I think I gained a lot more muscle, trained a lot harder, just had a better mindset going in. Just learning from guys that have already been playing in the NFL.
"Then things just clicked during the season. From Jimmy to C.J. (Beathard) to Nick (Mullens), I had three good quarterbacks throwing me the ball left and right. Coach Shanahan schemes up things left and right. No one else can really do stuff like he can so he just gave me opportunities to get the ball."
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers Notebook: Purdy burns Raiders with his legs; Halton injury hits teammates hard; Do the 49ers have a Super Bowl defense?
The latest version of the 49ers-Raiders rivalry was a memorable one, with a large number of twists, turns and unpredictable moments en route to a 38-17 49ers win at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. The teams don't play in the regular season often and didn't meet in the preseason... -
49ers injury updates: Deebo Samuel returns to practice, several others out
The San Francisco 49ers will return to the practice field Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. PT to begin preparing for their Week 10 road matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. Ahead of practice, head coach Kyle Shanahan spoke with reporters. He shared that wide receiver Deebo Samuel is... -
49ers' C.J. West reveals why he freely gave DeForest Buckner No. 99
Some might say San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle C.J. West missed an opportunity to add to his bank account. When the team traded for defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, West willingly—and freely—gave up his No. 99 jersey for the veteran. It's common for players joining... -
49ers' John Lynch explains why Jauan Jennings trade fell through
On Wednesday, head coach Kyle Shanahan addressed reports that Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jauan Jennings had turned down an opportunity to return to the San Francisco 49ers via trade. However, Shanahan's explanation suggested the situation was less about Jennings rejecting...