George Kittle's 49ers Contract Situation Slammed By NFL Insider

George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions G

Jan 28, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) reacts after a play against the Detroit Lions during the second half of the NFC Championship football game at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

George Kittle’s contract with the San Francisco 49ers should have been handled in a better manner as per team insider, Matt Maiocco. Over the weekend, Maiocco appeared on the KNBR radio station and discussed the very same topic. Back in 2020, Kittle pushed the 49ers to grant him a $75 million deal for a period of five years, making him the highest paid tight-end back then.

Kittle has been playing for the San Francisco 49ers since 2017 after being selected by the team as the 146th pick in the fifth round of the draft. Before stepping foot into the NFL, the 31-year-old tight end played for the Iowa Hawkeyes from 2012 to 2016.

“This is kind of following what the 49ers have done. They haven’t been proactive. They haven’t made a big push to sign their guys early, whether it’s early in the new league year or whatever the case may be. This is just the way they operate. And I think they’ve already done themselves a bit of a disservice with the handling of George Kittle’s new deal,” Matt Maiocco said on KCBR on Saturday.

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In the 2024 NFL season, tight end George Kittle managed a total of 78 receptions for 1,106 yards, scoring eight touchdowns for the team. Kittle’s numbers are gradually increasing after hitting a huge slump back in the 2020 season. Despite Kittle helping their offense in the previous season, the San Francisco 49ers finished fourth in the NFC West, winning only six games and losing 11 on the season.

Sep 9, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) chats with San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) while facing the New York Jets in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images

George Kittle Amps Up Fans At Wrestlemania With Bottoms-Up

Meanwhile, George Kittle seems to be having the time of his life as he and his team await the upcoming NFL season. Kittle was recently spotted at Wrestlemania 41 in Las Vegas. When the camera panned on the San Francisco tight end, Kittle downed an entire mug of beer in a single gulp, much to the delight of the audience. Kittle has always been a bit of a showman on and off the field, and his now-viral beer-chugging video is just proof of the same.

Dec 17, 2023; Glendale, Arizona, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The San Francisco 49ers were shown the door in the last NFL season after losing to the Arizona Cardinals, 47-24. In that game, Kittle managed two receptions for 27 yards. After the season exit, Kittle spoke to the media, blaming the team for not getting the right players on their roster. Hopefully, the 49ers will make intelligent moves in the upcoming draft to bring more versatility to their locker room.