Kittle joined WEEI in Boston on Thursday and was asked about Garoppolo, who has—fair or not—shouldered at least some of the blame this offseason for the 49ers' fourth-quarter collapse in Super Bowl LIV.
Kittle, for one, can't wait to start catching passes again from his quarterback and does not doubt that San Francisco can get back to the Super Bowl with Garoppolo.
"He's just done such a great job of leading us," Kittle said on the Ordway, Merloni and Fauria show, "whether that's on the field or off the field. He always has the right message for guys. He knows how to get guys locked in and focused. He knows how to challenge people."
The 2019 season was Garoppolo's first full NFL season as a starter, and he helped guide the team to the Super Bowl. The 28-year-old quarterback completed 69.1 percent of his passes for 3,978 yards with 27 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and a passer rating of 102.0 through 16 regular-season starts.
Garoppolo has inspired Kittle, who has watched his quarterback show off what an on-field leader looks like since the 49ers traded for him in 2017. It's something that Garoppolo probably picked up in his nearly four years as Tom Brady's understudy in New England.
It's that type of leadership that Kittle is trying to emulate to take some of the pressure off Garoppolo, allowing him to focus on the game.
"A lot of my offseason has been learning how to be a better leader so I can help Jimmy; so he can be our guy," Kittle continued. "So, it's fun to have him on the team because I've never really been around a leader like that, who has that voice.
"And I'm just looking forward to sharing the field with him again because I know he's definitely hungry, and he's got a lot to prove. I just can't wait for everyone to see how good he is."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Kittle below.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
Where 49ers TE George Kittle landed in PFF's top 101 players of 2025
Pro Football Focus (PFF) continues unveiling its top 101 players from the 2025 NFL season, revealing rankings from No. 21 through No. 101. The top 20 will be announced on Friday. Another San Francisco 49ers standout has officially made the list. Tight end George Kittle checked... -
49ers' George Kittle is PFF's top TE — but can he return to form?
When it comes to elite NFL tight ends, George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers still sets the standard. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Kittle was the highest-graded tight end in 2025, earning a stellar 90.7 offensive grade. Even in an injury-shortened campaign, the... -
49ers' George Kittle posts one-word reaction after Seahawks hire Brian Fleury
The San Francisco 49ers are losing a key member of head coach Kyle Shanahan's staff to an NFC West rival. On Sunday, it was reported that the Seattle Seahawks are hiring 49ers run game coordinator and tight ends coach Brian Fleury as their new offensive coordinator. He... -
Should the 49ers trade Mac Jones or retain him as a backup?
With Brock Purdy entrenched as the starter, the acquisition of Mac Jones as a backup in 2025 added a new dimension to the team's quarterback room. After navigating a challenging period in Foxborough, first-round draft pick Jones (15th overall) eventually made a successful...