Kittle details how the tight end position has evolved over time originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
The tight end position is a vital cog in the modern NFL offense, but it wasn’t always that way before superstars like George Kittle arrived on the scene.
While there were a handful of all-time talents to play the position, the group of tight ends across the league has never been as dynamic as it currently is.
During an interview on “The Dan Patrick Show,” Kittle detailed how the position has changed over time, citing versatility as a key change for the modern tight end.
“I think it’s evolving because you have more guys that can do everything,” Kittle told Patrick. “You don’t just have a 270-pound left tackle with a tight end number. And you don’t just have a 235-pound guy running chosen routes. pounds that are covering that gap. They’re running, catching the ball, being more than useful in the run game, in the pass protection game.
“You can take a look at the ‘Madden’ stats. All of his attributes are going up a little bit in every category. I don’t like 10 personnel – four wide receivers, one running back, zero tight ends. I’m not a fan of that. I’m all for multiple tight ends, maybe a fullback – I’d rather have one tight end unless it was. [Kyle Juszczyk] perhaps.”
Kittle and Chiefs superstar Travis Kelce hosts an annual event called “Tight End University“where position players come together to work on the field and share ideas and help improve each other’s skills.
The All-Pro explained to Patrick that his main focus remains preparing the other tight ends to handle any situation they may encounter, which in turn increases the value placed on the position moving forward.
“But really, I just want guys to have the opportunity to be in this position where they feel comfortable enough to be on the field in all situations and have the confidence to execute in all situations,” Kittle shared.
Since being selected by the 49ers in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Kittle has become one of the league’s most dangerous weapons. The 30-year-old has been selected to five Pro Bowls and has been named First-Team All-Pro twice, with two selections to the Second-Team All-Pro team as well.
Kittle’s dynamic ability as a pass catcher and destructive force as a run blocker helped highlight the importance of having elite talent at tight end, and his legacy will certainly continue to inspire players at that position for years to come.
