San Francisco, California — George Kittle and the San Francisco 49ers have finalized a substantial four-year contract extension valued at $76.4 million, according to Kittle’s announcement on the podcast “Bussin’ With The Boys” earlier this week. This landmark deal positions Kittle as the highest-paid tight end in NFL history, ensuring his tenure with the team runs through the 2029 season.
The 31-year-old tight end was slated to enter the final year of a five-year, $75 million contract, which previously set the standard for tight ends league-wide in terms of total value. In his relatively short career, Kittle has established himself as one of the franchise’s most prolific pass catchers. He currently ranks third in career receiving yards (7,380) and receptions (538), along with eighth in touchdown receptions (45) within the 49ers’ storied history. Among tight ends, he leads in both yards and receptions while trailing only Vernon Davis in touchdowns.
Since being selected by San Francisco in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Kittle has consistently been a top performer, ranking second to Travis Kelce in receiving yards and receptions over the same period, while sitting third for touchdowns behind both Kelce and Mark Andrews. Following back-to-back seasons exceeding 1,000 receiving yards, he led all tight ends with 1,106 yards last season, further solidifying his elite status.
Kittle’s relationship with quarterback Brock Purdy has bloss, making him Purdy’s most relied-upon target. In the 2023 season, Kittle topped the 49ers roster in several categories, including yards (2,126), targets (184), receptions (143), and touchdowns (14). Coming off a successful sixth Pro Bowl season, it was imperative for the 49ers to secure a new deal for Kittle, especially given the injuries and inconsistent performances from other offensive stars like Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, and Brandon Aiyuk.
Despite a deep class of tight ends in this year’s draft, the 49ers opted not to use any of their 11 draft picks to address the position, a clear indication of Kittle’s unmatched status as the team’s best blocker and primary receiving threat. After a brief absence in the offseason program, Kittle was back in the facility on April 25, joining fellow star players such as McCaffrey and linebacker Fred Warner for voluntary workouts. Their participation is critical as Head Coach Kyle Shanahan aims to foster a positive momentum that was missing during the previous season.
The extension was finalized on April 29, a timely move for a team looking to build on its competitiveness. By securing Kittle’s future, the 49ers not only retain a top-tier athlete but also send a message about their commitment to building a championship-caliber team moving forward. Kittle’s presence remains vital to the 49ers’ overall strategy as they look ahead to the upcoming season.