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San Francisco 49ers: Ranking the 10 most memorable plays of the decade

By Timmy Gibson

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JANUARY 14: Alex Smith #11 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass from the pocket in the first quarter against the New Orleans Saints during the NFC Divisional playoff game at Candlestick Park on January 14, 2012 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JANUARY 14: Alex Smith #11 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass from the pocket in the first quarter against the New Orleans Saints during the NFC Divisional playoff game at Candlestick Park on January 14, 2012 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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George Kittle, 49ers
George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers  (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

No. 7: George Kittle Wills the 49ers to Beat the Saints

If 2018 was when George Kittle showed he was one of the NFL’s best tight ends, this play was when he reminded the New Orleans Saints of that fact. Down by one point with less than a minute remaining in Week 14 of the 2019 season, Jimmy Garoppolo completed a pass to Kittle, who needed to pick up two yards to convert a fourth down.

And then, well, this happened:

Kittle wound up dragging three Saints defenders, as he brought the Niners into field-goal range all by himself. I personally am convinced that, if not for the blatant facemask, Kittle would have scored a touchdown. With this play, though, Kittle singlehandedly set up the 49ers for a game-winning field goal.

This game has been referred to as the game of the season, and this was certainly the play of the game, so it seems reasonable to call this the play of the season. It certainly seems to embody the 2019 49ers: a tough, gritty team that simply refuses to give up.

Talk about memorable. Kittle literally just carried the Saints defenders down the field. There are some football players who just always make plays when needed, and Kittle is one of those players.

Because of the situation it happened in, this is one of Kittle’s best plays, and certainly his most memorable. It will be talked about for a long, long, long time.