Kittle gave a blunt response about the state of the 49ers franchise originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
After losing a Super Bowl – the second to the Kansas City Chiefs in five NFL seasons – one can understand if feelings of pessimism and despair resonate strongly in the 49ers’ locker room.
This couldn’t be further from the case of San Francisco star tight end George Kittle.
Over a week into 49ers OTAs, Kittle is feeling fine and optimistic, as he described when speaking to reporters about the state of the franchise on Wednesday.
“I have a really good squad, great coaches, great players, ready to win,” Kittle told reporters (h/t David Bonilla 49ers Web Zone). “I would say this is the state of the franchise. You need to win now.
“Your only goal is to get to the end, get through the whole season and then get to the end and win. And unfortunately, we didn’t do that again. So it’s like, okay, [we’re] I will climb the mountain again. This time we just have to win.”
Kittle, coming off his seventh NFL season where he had 65 receptions for 1,020 yards and six touchdowns, is ready to return to the promised land. The 49ers are also coming off a dominant NFL season in 2023.
San Francisco finished the regular season with a 12-5 record – second-best in the league behind the 13-4 Baltimore Ravens – and third in points per game (28.9) and points allowed per game (17.5). ). The 49ers also had nine NFL Pro Bowl selections It is seven AP All-Pros – Kittle received both honors.
Of course, San Francisco’s loss in Super Bowl LVIII still stings. However, Kittle emphasized that he and the 49ers are excited back to the drawing board.
“It is what it is and, unfortunately, I didn’t achieve the goal of winning a Super Bowl, but I have another opportunity to do so this year,” Kittle added. “So this sucks? Yes, but the fact that I have another opportunity with a fantastic football team, a great squad, I would love to bet on my team again – not really, but figuratively speaking, of course.
“Playing football is very difficult, enduring a whole season, being as healthy as possible, trying to make plays. Each individual player has their own individual goals, but they all have the same team goal. And so it’s been a really fun team to be a part of.”
The 49ers, alongside their nemesis the Chiefs, are the leading contenders to meet in Super Bowl LIX at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans – it would be only the second time in NFL history that the two franchises would meet on three occasions for all marbles (Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers – Super Bowls X, XIII and XXX).
Kittle is happy to try to come back with a better ending, of course, and is proud to be competing for an organization of such high character.
“We have a great group of people, and when you don’t achieve that goal that you really want, it’s difficult,” Kittle concluded.”
