NFL News: George Kittle makes blunt admission about the 49ers' offseason

The San Francisco 49ers are among several NFL franchises that fell short last season, making a bounce-back campaign a must—at least from a football standpoint. Following a relatively uneventful offseason, George Kittle believes the team is well-positioned to return to the spotlight.

Recent roster-building efforts in the Bay Area have seen their share of ups and downs—many centered around contract negotiations with the team’s biggest stars. This time, with Kittle already locked in and Brock Purdy reportedly on track for an extension, there’s a sense of relief around the organization, allowing for a more focused and steady preparation ahead of the season.

In a recent conversation with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Jennifer Lee Chan, one of the franchise’s all-time great tight ends made it clear how he feels about entering a new season with most of his teammates back in the fold.

“I’m happy that we don’t have a bunch of guys holding out for contracts,” Kittle said. “I’m glad that we are not having a super drama-filled offseason. I think every year of my career we’ve had a quarterback controversy at some point. And to not have that, it’s going great.

Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after his rushing touchdown against the Detroit Lions with George Kittle #85 during the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium on December 30, 2024 in Santa Clara, California.

“And just when you have everybody in the building or the majority of the guys in the building, just the energy in the locker room is fantastic, the weight room is awesome, guys are working really hard. We have a lot of new free agents this year, so you want to meet everybody. You want everybody to get to know you before you get into the grind of training camp.”

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The importance of having Purdy back under center

Brock Purdy has more than proven he possesses the essential tools to lead Kyle Shanahan’s offense—often delivering highly positive results. While a contract extension has yet to be finalized, all signs point to the quarterback remaining in the Bay Area, something George Kittle openly welcomes.

“Brock being here reinforces that because everybody knows who Brock is and he is a very social person in the locker room,” the tight end said. “His being around, getting to meet everybody, is just good for our team chemistry.”

“Just trying to help him out as best I can without ever trying to overstep,” Kittle also added. “Because he’s an adult, and he knows what he wants to do with his life, but if I can help with a little guidance here and there, I try my best.”