San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle stood there on the sideline, watching as the Kansas City Chiefs scored 21 unanswered points to rally from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit and emerge as Super Bowl LIV champions.

It hurt. It hurt badly as the realization hit players, like Kittle, that they would fall short of their goal for this past season. Everything they worked so hard to accomplish, it just wasn't quite enough. Not on Sunday, at least.


"I will be back here," Kittle told himself on the sidelines during those closing minutes of the game. "I will be back here, and I will be back with a motherf---ing vengeance."

Kittle, like many of his teammates, believes this 49ers team is capable of using the loss as motivation for next season and once again reaching the Super Bowl. Some have acknowledged it won't be easy. This past season was far from easy, after all. But there is no shortage of confidence from this group, given everything it has built.

What makes Kittle so sure this team can beat the odds, return, and possibly get over the hump?

"We're still a pretty young team," Kittle responded, "and the fact that we won 15 games and went to the Super Bowl after going 4-12 (in 2018) is, I think, pretty impressive."

The average age of the 49ers roster is 26.6 years old, making it the fourth-youngest squad in the NFL.


"I think the work ethic and the mindset around the guys here, and the selflessness from them, I think that in itself will speak volumes," Kittle continued. "And I think just our mindset going into this offseason, if guys treat it the right way, I think we'll have every opportunity in the world to go back."


Added Kittle: "We have a great team, great coaches, we won a lot of games, we lost a lot of tough games. Every single day I came to work, I enjoyed it."

Kittle, of course, is due a contract extension — one that will make him the highest-paid tight end in football. The 49ers would like to get that done sooner rather than later as Kittle prepares to enter the final year of his rookie deal.

Kittle didn't want to talk about his contract on Wednesday, though, deflecting questions toward his agent. He did applaud the reporter's efforts to get something out of him regarding his contact.

"My agent will handle all those questions," Kittle said. "He's in charge of that, so if you guys want to talk to him, you're more than welcome to."




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