San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle has been one of quarterback Brock Purdy’s most reliable targets for the past three seasons.
Kittle fittingly has been one of the most vocal players of his excitement about Purdy’s recent new contract with the team. Purdy signed a five-year, $265 million deal with the 49ers in May — the biggest contract in team history. He’s only three years removed from being “Mr. Irrelevant” as the final pick in the 2022 draft.
“I love when home-grown guys get paid,” Kittle told NBC Sports Bay Area during Tight Ende University in Nashville on Monday. “It’s one of my favorite things. We draft them, [he] played really well for us, we paid him.”
“Because the best way to create memories and create relationships with guys is to go through hard struggles with them on the football field, or to win a lot of football games with them,” Kittle added.
Brock Purdy Emerged From Being ‘Mr. Irrelevant’
GettyBrock Purdy runs the ball against the Detroit Lions in 2024.
Purdy started off as a backup quarterback in 2022, but his opportunity came after injuries to starter Trey Lance and backup Jimmy Garoppolo. The former Iowa State standout completed 67.1% of his passes for 1,374 yards and 13 touchdowns versus four interceptions, and he led the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game that season.
Purdy won the starting job for 2023 with Lance and Garoppolo gone, and that paid dividends for the 49ers as Purdy became a serious MVP contender. He completed 69.4% of his passes for 4,280 yards and 31 touchdowns versus 11 interceptions, and Purdy led the 49ers to the Super Bowl.
His third season didn’t go as well as planned amid a 65.9% completion rate for 3,864 yards and 20 touchdowns versus 12 interceptions. Purdy and an injury-riddled 49ers squad fell short of the playoffs along the way.
“We’ve won a lot of games, we’ve gone through some heartbreak together,” Kittle said. “But that just builds a good bond, and we are going to continue to play with each other for a long time.”
Brock Purdy is ‘The Same Guy’
Kittle, who was a fifth-round pick of the 49ers in 2017, understands the rise from being a late-round pick to being a star. He also knows the risks of getting a big contract and sees Purdy handling that well.
“The same guy,” Kittle said. “Probably just more, not even more, he’s just so on it all the time. Seeing the way he preps for every practice, that’s one thing I love seeing.”
“He’s out there as early as he can be just getting his arm loose, getting his whole body, his torso loose so he can go out there and throw. It’s fun to be around him,” Kittle added.
More Fun Ahead For George Kittle and Brock Purdy
Kittle hopes to have more fun with Purdy when training camp gets underway in a matter of weeks. The 49ers look bounce back from a losing season in 2025, which Kittle is hopeful of.
“My outlook for the 2025 season? Run the heck at outside zone, stay really healthy, and then have a lot of fun,” Kittle said. “And if those things happen, it’ll be a fun year.”
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