TE · SF · 32 yrs · exp 9 · Iowa
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Latest: Jul 24, 2026 · 3,832
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It's an exciting time in the TE world for fantasy football. Scott Pianowski poses the biggest questions at the position heading into camps
When 49ers tight end George Kittle last addressed receiver Brandon Aiyuk , during a visit with Pardon My Take , he told Commanders fan PFT Commenter, " Have fun with that ." In a Thursday visit with Chris Simms , Kittle opted not to get into the details about the things that have happened between Aiyuk and the 49ers. However, Kittle strongly hinted that the problems trace to the protracted and difficult contract negotiations between Aiyuk and the 49ers from 2024. "I feel like I know basically everything that's happened and what's gone on, and I can't share all of that, because it's not my business to share or tell," Kittle said. "But . . . I feel like the Niners have done a very good job throughout the entire process and have tried. [Coach] Kyle [Shanahan] has tried. [G.M.] John [Lynch] has tried. Teammates have tried. And this is where we are. And so I think the organization itself has done a really good job. And like I said, I know plenty of things. . . . I don't want to point a finger at anybody, but I've been here for 10 years, and I've been treated with nothing but respect and love my entire career. I feel like I've done it the right way as long as I can." That's the right approach. Kittle and Aiyuk have been teammates for six years. Technically, they still are — even if Aiyuk undoubtedly will never play for the 49ers again (barring a dramatic and unexpected change of heart). Kittle pivoted during his response to the contract issue that bogged down the relationship between Aiyuk and the 49ers. And Kittle's comments make clear his belief that, for Aiyuk, the situation left a wound that never healed. "Contract negotiations are also — those are always hard for everybody," Kittle said. "And you just try your best to not be sensitive about it. But I will say, you know, Richard Sherman gave me advice back in the day when I was going through my first contract negotiation. It was, 'Contracts are like braces. They hurt and they suck the entire time, and then once you get your braces off and you get paid, you don't even remember having them. And it's a great time.' Like, that's kind of the mindset you have to have, and, you know, if you get offended by something, you hold onto it, that's kind of on you, because everybody goes through contract negotiations, and they're all difficult." Regardless of how much sense that makes, something happened that pushed Aiyuk past the point of no return. For him, it was the first real contract negotiation of his pro career. The 49ers do them all the time and, frankly, this creates an obligation to not treat all of them the same. For someone like Kittle, the discomfort of the braces was forgotten immediately. For someone like Aiyuk, the pain and discomfort can't be. Successful coaches have a different approach to coaching different players. Front offices should do the same. Hardball can't be the only game played; for some players, the echoes of chin music never fade away. Whether or not the 49ers had reason to believe Aiyuk would hold a grudge over contentious contract talks is a different issue. As the situation was unfolding two summers ago, however, there was plenty of evidence to support the conclusion that the time had come to move on. And the 49ers had a chance to do it, with a trade to the Steelers teed up before Aiyuk suddenly decided to accept the team's offer. Surely, the 49ers wish they'd gone through with the trade. Even more surely, they've learned from the experience a better way to resolve the next negotiations that turn extra ugly. Or maybe they've learned how to keep the negotiations from getting extra ugly. Especially from the players who won't forget the ugliness
When 49ers tight end George Kittle last addressed receiver Brandon Aiyuk, during a visit with Pardon My Take , he told Commanders fan PFT Commenter, “ Have fun with that .” In a Thursday visit with Chris Simms , Kittle opted not to get into the details about the things that have happened between Aiyuk and the 49ers. However, Kittle strongly hinted that the problems trace to the protracted and difficult contract negotiations between Aiyuk and the 49ers from 2024. “I feel like I know basically everything that’s happened and what’s gone on, and I can’t share all of that, because it’s not my business to share or tell,” Kittle said. “But . . . I feel like the Niners have done a very good job throughout the entire process and have tried. [Coach] Kyle [Shanahan] has tried. [G.M.] John [Lynch] has tried. Teammates have tried. And this is where we are. And so I think the organization itself has done a really good job. And like I said, I know plenty of things. . . . I don’t want to point a finger at anybody, but I’ve been here for 10 years, and I’ve been treated with nothing but respect and love my entire career. I feel like I’ve done it the right way as long as I can.” That’s the right approach. Kittle and Aiyuk have been teammates for six years. Technically, they still are — even if Aiyuk undoubtedly will never play for the 49ers again (barring a dramatic and unexpected change of heart). Kittle pivoted during his response to the contract issue that bogged down the relationship between Aiyuk and the 49ers. And Kittle’s comments make clear his belief that, for Aiyuk, the situation left a wound that never healed. “Contract negotiations are also — those are always hard for everybody,” Kittle said. “And you just try your best to not be sensitive about it. But I will say, you know, Richard Sherman gave me advice back in the day when I was going through my first contract negotiation. It was, ‘Contracts are like braces. They hurt and they suck the entire time, and then once you get your braces off and you get paid, you don’t even remember having them. And it’s a great time.’ Like, that’s kind of the mindset you have to have, and, you know, if you get offended by something, you hold onto it, that’s kind of on you, because everybody goes through contract negotiations, and they’re all difficult.” Regardless of how much sense that makes, something happened that pushed Aiyuk past the point of no return. For him, it was the first real contract negotiation of his pro career. The 49ers do them all the time and, frankly, this creates an obligation to not treat all of them the same. For someone like Kittle, the discomfort of the braces was forgotten immediately. For someone like Aiyuk, the pain and discomfort can’t be. Successful coaches have a different approach to coaching different players. Front offices should do the same. Hardball can’t be the only game played; for some players, the echoes of chin music never fade away. Whether or not the 49ers had reason to believe Aiyuk would hold a grudge over contentious contract talks is a different issue. As the situation was unfolding two summers ago, however, there was plenty of evidence to support the conclusion that the time had come to move on. And the 49ers had a chance to do it, with a trade to the Steelers teed up before Aiyuk suddenly decided to accept the team’s offer. Surely, the 49ers wish they’d gone through with the trade. Even more surely, they’ve learned from the experience a better way to resolve the next negotiations that turn extra ugly. Or maybe they’ve learned how to keep the negotiations from getting extra ugly. Especially from the players who won’t forget the ugliness
The article humorously frames a potential dispute between George Kittle and Kyle Shanahan as the "real fight of the century," contrasting it with a hypothetical Logan Paul vs. Tom Brady match
49ers All-Pro tight end George Kittle explained to Chris Simms on 'Chris Simms Unbuttoned' which of the team's Super Bowl losses hurt him the most
We are a few days away from the San Francisco 49ers’ entire team reporting to training camp. We’ll see how often Kyle Shanahan gives veterans like Trent Williams and Christian McCaffrey days off. We know players like Nick Bosa , George Kittle , and Mykel Williams are recovering from season-ending injuries. That opens the door for some other players on the roster to make a name for themselves and catch the eyes of the coaching staff. That’s especially true for the new faces on the roster. And there are plenty of those who will look to take advantage of potential openings. Whether that’s Christian Kirk at wide receiver, Robert Jones or Brett Toth at guard, Nate Hobbs in the secondary, or one of the undrafted free agent rookies added on defense, we can expect somebody to stand out. Last season, that was Demarcus Robinson . He was unguardable during training camp. You would have thought he was Brandon Aiyuk the way he was being talked about last August. Unfortunately, that summer success never came to fruition during the season. So, who will be the summer standout this year? My answer: Jacob Cowing In these practice settings, it tends to be the wide receiver, much like Robinson a year ago. I’ll go with the player who I think can carry over a strong training camp into the regular season. There will be veteran days off for Mike Evans during training camp and the preseason. That’ll open the door for other wideouts. So I’m going with Jacob Cowing, a guy who adds a speed dimension that the 49ers did not have a season ago. Ricky Pearsall tested extraordinarily well, but, to the eye test, Cowing plays faster than Pearsall. Cowing will be lined up in the slot and off the ball in advantageous matchups against a secondary that does not run well, at least compared to Cowing. Usage matters. Cowing will likely run deep crossing routes or routes with vertical stems. He may have a screen or two mixed in with an underneath route, but he’s a vertical threat. That’ll lead to big plays, splash plays, and “oohs and ahhs” from the crowd. That’ll show in preseason games, as will Cowing’s ability as a returner. He should get enough opportunities returning punts and kicks. It’s another area where Cowing can show off his speed and prove to the coaching staff that he can make an impact
Has Kyle Shanahan made enough meaningful additions to support an aging and injured core?
ESPN’s Adam Schefter had training camp notes for every NFL team on his podcast. In the NFC West portion, Schefter spoke about the hurdles Aaron Donald and the Los Angeles Rams still have to clear — Donald is still owed $40 million from his current deal. According to Schefter, the 49ers still have “a lot of unresolved issues.” Here’s what he had to say: We still need to see if Brandon Aiyuk is going to apply for reinstatement. George Kittle is coming back from injury. He feels like he’s going to be ready for that season opener in Australia against the Rams, but the 49ers may be very careful. And let’s see if he can make it back. I don’t think it’s a given just yet. They have a new defensive coordinator in Raheem Morris, who will be the fifth different defensive coordinator in the last 5 years. Now, they love Raheem Morris. They’ve wanted him to do that job for a while. I think Kyle Shanahan is very happy to have him back there. But it’s another new defensive coordinator, as they try to work in some of their players coming back from knee injuries — like their former No.1 draft pick, Mykel Williams . A lot of players trying to bounce back. They do have Mike Evans , and that’ll be a big boost for the offense. For as active as Aiyuk has been on social media, he still must apply for reinstatement . A week ago, Schefter said he believed Aiyuk had scared teams off . He’s not getting traded anymore after his antics. Aiyuk won’t get the opportunity to play for another team until he files the paperwork to be reinstated. He’ll remain on the left squad list until that happens. Kittle should take all the time he needs. As impressive as it is to see him deadlift 660 pounds , those deadlift/squatting movements don’t have as much impact on the Achilles as you’d think, as there is no directional change in an explosive manner happening. Kittle said during OTAs he had a target date that would be 21 weeks out on June 23. Week 1 feels like a long shot. Speculating on Kittle’s return will drive you up a wall. As for having stability at defensive coordinator, it’s the first time there’s a former defensive back in the fold. I’ll be interested to see how Morris impacts the play of the secondary, and if we see more changes throughout the season if the results don’t follow
It’s becoming clear that the San Francisco 49ers will have a big opportunity to jump back into contention in 2026 after an offseason where they made a number of quality moves in free agency. After a surprise trip to the divisional round last season, the 49ers will look to top that in 2026, but they’ll need several things to go their way. The team’s biggest hindrance over the past few years has been injuries, and the issue arose again in 2025, with George Kittle , Fred Warner , Nick Bosa, Brock Purdy , and others all missing multiple games last season. But the 49ers will also need younger players to step up, wide receivers to be better, and the pass rush to improve after ranking last in sacks in 2025. There are a lot of 49ers looking to take the next step or bounce back in 2026. Who is under the most pressure? The Athletic revealed the player with the most to prove for every NFL team ahead of training camp, and the 49ers’ candidate was defensive end Nick Bosa, who is coming off a torn ACL. “Bosa is coming off his third knee surgery — and the second ACL injury to the same knee — and is being asked to carry the 49ers’ pass rush while mentoring young players Mykel Williams and Romello Height,” The Athletic’s Vic Tafur wrote. “It seems like the 49ers will still add a veteran edge player to help Bosa (after Bryce Huff suddenly retired). “The return of Bosa, linebacker Fred Warner and tight end George Kittle from injuries is a big reason this team has Super Bowl aspirations. Bosa, who turns 29 in October, is also going to need a new contract after this season, as the five-year deal he signed in 2023 has a $54.9 million salary-cap hit in 2027. If Bosa can show that he is still one of the best speed-to-power rushers in the NFL, the 49ers will be in for a successful season and Bosa in for another huge payday.” While there are several 49ers returning from injury, Bosa’s return could be the most important of them all. Bosa was playing at an extremely high level in a short sample size last offseason before suffering the injury. And the 49ers clearly struggled without him, ranking last in sacks. The 49ers didn’t do much with their pass rush in the offseason, with the main addition being Texas Tech’s Romello Height in the draft. That adds more pressure on Bosa to contribute and fast
We’ve been going all over this for the last few months: the 49ers are getting older. And while we discuss it in the comments, everyone else mentions that they are getting too old and beat up. Is that much of an issue? It will be in a year or two if these last couple of draft picks don’t work out. I’ve been harping about finding a replacement for Trent Williams , even though that’s not exactly the way things work in the NFL. Can it be done currently? Well, if the last two seasons are any indication, yeah, maybe. In both seasons, the 49ers were inundated with injuries, and how they won the wild card game against the Philadelphia Eagles last season is still something I’m trying to figure out (oh, but its awesomeness can’t be argued). Albert Breer mentioned the age as something interesting to watch in his latest column on SI.com . The 49ers’ age is notable, and makes them as all in as their NFC West rivals in Los Angeles . Trent Williams is 38, Kyle Juszczyk is 35, George Kittle and Mike Evans are 32, Christian McCaffrey is 30, Fred Warner is 29 and Nick Bosa is 28. Can all those guys stay healthy? Do the Niners have a big swing left in them before the trade deadline to give them their best shot? It’s an interesting circumstance. Do older players get injured? Sure. But that’s really the main thing: if they don’t get injured (and that might happen), then I don’t think anyone will care about how old the roster is. If they make another NFC Championship this season, age really wasn’t an issue, and this season was a success. But going into the season? Same applies. I don’t really care how old the roster is as long as they are winning. The injury concerns are real, but it’s not like only the old players got sidelined last year and the year before that. At the end of the day, it’s a question of whether the age of the 49ers is really that much of an issue or just a talking point for everyone talking about the 49ers. Only time will tell, I suppose. Are you that concerned about their age, or is that just a number at this point?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup was a cultural experience that brought new perspectives to the United States, and one of them might have staying power in the NFL . Stars throughout the league watched as their home stadiums turned into soccer cathedrals. Corporate branding was hidden, security measures were heightened and, in many cases, natural grass replaced artificial turf. Numerous NFL players want that last change to become permanent. San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle was among the first big-name football players to publicly point out what these playing surface changes could mean for his league. Last month, at the start of the World Cup, Kittle said the transition from artificial turf to natural grass at venues like MetLife Stadium and SoFi Stadium proves the NFL could play on grass year-round if owners "really gave a s---." Kittle attended the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina on Sunday and used the occasion to once again call on the NFL for change. Grass still looks great! Let’s use grass instead of turf @NFL !! Please? Thanks guys! pic.twitter.com/1iS8Jf2zPX Kittle said last month he thinks 90% of players would prefer natural grass over artificial turf if given the option. While it is unclear if that large a majority actually supports it, there is clearly enough backing for the NFL Players Association to make it one of its primary sticking points with the league. The NFLPA has called for the league to fully adopt natural surfaces for three years, and first-year executive director JC Tretter embraced the issue upon assuming his new leadership position. The NFLPA leaned into the movement over the weekend with the hashtag #WorthTheCost, with players calling on league stakeholders to invest in player safety and universally ditch artificial turf. A large handful of the NFL's biggest names echoed Kittle's desire for league-wide natural grass. Perennial Pro Bowlers and rising stars alike used their platforms during the final weekend of the World Cup to join the call for action. Bears QB Caleb Williams #worththecost pic.twitter.com/UxVcFc4lr2 Colts RB Jonathan Taylor Natural grass isn't out of reach. Prioritizing players shouldn't be either! We're #WorthTheCost Commanders OT Laremy Tunsil If stadiums can make grass work for the World Cup, they can make it work for NFL players. We're #WorthTheCost . Panthers LB Devin Lloyd Natural grass isn't out of reach. Prioritizing players shouldn't be either! We're #WorthTheCost Packers TE Tucker Kraft Green Bay Packers are spoiled since we play on the greatest surface in the NFL. Natural grass is the best, and should be the only surface we play on. We are #WorthTheCost Player safety is the crux of the argument for natural grass. During his tenure as NFLPA president, Tretter penned an article in 2020 outlining the discrepancy in injuries between the two playing surfaces. NFL injury data from 2012-18 showed a 28% higher rate of non-contact lower-extremity injuries on turf compared with grass. Turf is particularly hard on knees and ankles, resulting in 32% more non-contact knee injuries and 69% more foot and ankle injuries over that seven-year span. Those numbers are rooted in physics: Grass has more give, while turf places more force on the legs. MetLife Stadium, which hosted eight World Cup matches on a newly installed grass field, has long been at the center of scrutiny . With its AstroTurf in place, the following NFL standouts -- among numerous other players -- suffered serious lower-body injuries there over the last six years: The evidence is also anecdotal. Tretter wrote in that article that his joints "felt noticeably stiffer the next day" when he practiced on artificial fields compared with grass. Exactly half of the NFL's stadiums use artificial turf, so players are deeply familiar with going back and forth and feeling the effects of both surface types. Converting a field from turf to grass is a significant undertaking. At MetLife Stadium, it took wee [... truncated ...]
George Kittle and Kyle Juszczyk both offered Deebo Samuel a guest house on Instagram, as the former San Francisco 49ers receiver remains a free agent
Brock Bowers, the Raiders' first-round pick, is set to become eligible for a contract extension next offseason. Given his franchise player status, the Raiders are expected to prioritize extending him. His potential future contract is likely to exceed current deals for tight ends like Kyle Pitts and Brendan Strange, and could approach or surpass the averages of top earners like George Kittle and Trey McBride, potentially reaching $20-22 million per season
The San Francisco 49ers made a couple of moves at wide receiver this offseason, signing Mike Evans and Christian Kirk in free agency, while drafting De’Zhaun Stribling with their first pick of the 2026 NFL Draft at No. 33 overall. Those three additions provide much-needed depth and talent at wide receiver, where the 49ers struggled in 2025. Without Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel, the 49ers didn’t have a wideout top 650 receiving yards, as injuries and struggles on the field led the way. Evans gives the 49ers a proven No. 1 wide receiver who can win on the outside, although he comes with his own risks after the most injury-laden season of his career in 2025. He’ll be 33 this season, but has been highly productive when healthy and should be a good red-zone weapon. Kirk dealt with injuries as well in 2025, but is another proven weapon who can operate out of the slot and give the 49ers good depth alongside Evans and Ricky Pearsall . Stribling’s role as a rookie is unclear, but he worked well after the catch in college and gives the 49ers a big, fast receiver at 225 pounds. Still, could the 49ers add one more weapon to the room? Former 49ers star Deebo Samuel remains a free agent this offseason after his deal with the Washington Commanders expired, and he’s searching for a new home. Samuel, 30, caught 72 passes for 727 yards and five touchdowns with the Commanders in 2025, while playing in 16 games. He didn’t see much usage as a runner, getting only 17 carries for 75 yards and a touchdown. Samuel’s average depth of target was quite low once again at 5.2 yards per target, but he did have some big games for the Commanders, especially early in the season. Could he be another player that returns to the 49ers on a one-year deal? Some of his former teammates vouched for a potential return this weekend. On one of Samuel’s recent Instagram posts, both George Kittle and Kyle Juszczyk commented, welcoming the wideout back to the Bay Area should he choose to return. “I have a guest house with your name on it,” Juszczyk wrote, with Kittle writing a similar remark: ‘I also have a guest house labeled ‘Deebo’s second home.’” Now, the 49ers have mentioned the desire to get younger and cheaper, but they’ve also added several veterans this offseason, including Evans, Kirk, linebacker Dre Greenlaw , and others, as they look to maximize their current championship window. Samuel could be another low-cost, one-year option that gives the 49ers more depth and reliability at wide receiver with a familiar face. The wideout should find a new home, should he choose, before the season starts, and there are many better situations for more playing time, including with the Commanders, who don’t have any proven options behind Terry McLaurin . But there are also options available back home
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle became the latest NFL player to advocate for all 32 teams to adopt grass playing surfaces after several did so for the 2026 World Cup . Kittle voiced his support for grass fields while attending the 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium. He posted several pictures of the playing surface to social media, noting it looked "great" and tagging the NFL to make his feelings known. "Grass looks great at MetLife!" Kittle wrote in his initial post to X, which featured an image of the field being prepared for the match. "Can we keep it that way @NFL?? Would appreciate it thanks." Kittle parroted his message later in the match in another social media post, this one featuring a selfie of him and Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg , who joined him in attending the tournament final. "Grass still looks great!" Kittle wrote. "Let’s use grass instead of turf @NFL!! Please? Thanks guys! Kittle's second post notably garnered an one-word endorsement from New York Jets running back Breece Hall , who plays his home games at MetLife Stadium. "PLEASE," Hall wrote in a quote-post on X. Kittle and Hall's comments come amid a larger push from NFL players to have owners uniformly install grass surfaces across all 30 of the league's regular stadiums. Presently, just 15 of the 30 venues have grass surfaces while the others use turf. Multiple NFL players – including Caleb Williams , Laremy Tunsil and Patrick Queen , among others – have recently shared posts about playing on grass that include a "#worththecost" hashtag . The reaction is not a surprise. According to an NFLPA survey, 92% of NFL players prefer playing on natural grass over synthetic turf. The NFL doesn't appear to be considering a full-out switch to grass any time soon. Turf stadiums that installed grass for the World Cup – including AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys , and Gillette Stadium, where the New England Patriots play – have already begun the process of removing the grass and re-laying the turf ahead of the 2026 NFL season. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: George Kittle, Breece Hall join chorus of NFL players calling for grass over turf
49ers players Kyle Juszczyk and George Kittle are lobbying for a former teammate to rejoin the team. Additionally, the 49ers are being urged to sign veteran defender Kyle Van Noy to improve their defense
49ers tight end George Kittle continues to voice his displeasure with the NFL for using turf instead of grass at its stadiums. During Sunday’s World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, Kittle was in attendance and posted a photo of the grass at MetLife Stadium and complimented the field. “Grass looks great at MetLife! Can we keep it that way@NFL?? Would appreciate it thanks.” Kittle wrote in an X post. When the World Cup began this summer, one of the requirements FIFA made to the United States host cities was to install grass in the NFL stadiums that typically use artificial turf. NFL players have been voicing their opinions to the NFL for the teams to switch from playing on artificial turf to playing on grass. Since the World Cup began in June, Kittle has been calling out the NFL for having the players play on turf instead of grass, as he’s called the conditions too unsafe to play on. Despite being an outdoor stadium, MetLife Stadium plays on full artificial turf and has seen its fair share of severe injuries as players have called it their least favorite place to play. Some notable injuries that have happened at MetLife Stadium include the season-ending injuries of Aaron Rodgers (torn Achilles in 2023), Nick Bosa (torn ACL in 2020) and Wan’Dale Robinson (torn ACL in non-contact play in 2022). Kittle, 32, is about to enter his 10th NFL season but is nursing a torn Achilles injury he suffered against the Eagles in January. The Eagles’ playing surface during the NFL season is made of natural grass that is mixed with artificial turf fibers. While the World Cup is coming to an end, the NFL season is on the horizon, and Kittle has been busy rehabbing. Recently, he shared a video of himself working out on X and was seen deadlifting 665 pounds
Deebo Samuel is a free agent, and his former 49ers teammates Kyle Juszczyk and George Kittle have replied to his posts, potentially signaling a desire for him to return to San Francisco
George Kittle is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a torn Achilles and hopes to be healthy by Week 1
Paraag Marathe, a key executive for the 49ers who has been instrumental in roster building and contract negotiations for players like Brock Purdy, George Kittle, Fred Warner, and Kyle Juszczyk, as well as facilitating trades for Christian McCaffrey and Trent Williams, is reportedly a finalist for the MLS Commissioner position
Data comes from cached Sleeper and KTC snapshots. Values update when the sync jobs run.
