George Kittle has signed a record contract with the San Francisco 49ers for an additional four years. What sounds devastating at first glance is, on closer inspection, the only option for the franchise. A commentary.

These figures are undoubtedly impressive. George Kittle has extended his contract with the San Francisco 49ers for another four years through the 2029 season, becoming the highest-paid tight end in the NFL.

The new contract is worth a whopping $76 million, $40 million of which is guaranteed. And that’s for a 31-year-old. If Kittle fulfills his new contract in full, he will be 36 years old when it expires.

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It seems like a bout of profligacy on the part of a team that will soon have to fork out an even larger sum. Quarterback Brock Purdy’s contract extension is still pending and is likely to weigh heavily on the salary cap.

So why are the Niners taking this step with Kittle? As is so often the case, it’s worth taking a look beneath the surface.

George Kittle is a key player on offense

The 49ers veteran’s previous contract would have expired at the end of the upcoming season, so Kittle could have tested the market in free agency. However, his departure would have left a huge hole in the team.

With 1,106 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, Kittle clearly led his team in the 2024 season. In an injury-plagued offense, he was the anchor, the fixture, the clear playmaker.

That also helped Purdy himself, who had more mixed performances. Kittle saved his butt time and time again. Ironically, he has played a major role in Purdy currently being in negotiations for a new mega contract.

Of course, some injured players such as receiver Brandon Aiyuk and running back Christian McCaffrey are coming back, and last year’s rookie Ricky Pearsall is likely to take the next step in his development.

But Kittle has qualities that cannot simply be replaced. And that goes far beyond his pure athletic value. He is a leader in the locker room, his voice carries weight. Plus, the fans love him.

The 49ers without Kittle? Hard to imagine.

If Kittle had left after the upcoming season, it would have completely disrupted the hierarchy in the Bay Area. And there is no athletic successor in sight.

Contract structure eliminates any risk for the 49ers

Of course, Kittle will turn 32 during the upcoming season. So what? Travis Kelce, who is almost exactly four years older, was still playing at an All-Pro level at that point.

But it was also clear that another extension for Kittle would cost a lot of money. Just recently, Trey McBride of the Arizona Cardinals signed a record contract with an annual salary of $19 million, redefining the market for tight ends.

However, the contract is structured in such a way that the 49ers can react if Kittle’s drop does come earlier. Of the guaranteed $40 million, $35 million is due immediately upon signing, with the remaining five million not due until the 2027 season.

This means that San Francisco has secured a fairly comfortable exit option. There is virtually no risk, especially since this structure has no influence whatsoever on the negotiations with Purdy.

In this constellation, there was no alternative to extending Kittle’s contract – on several levels.
Kittle will now earn $100,000 more per year on paper – it’s also a matter of pride to be able to call yourself the highest earner.