The San Francisco 49ers have released longtime fullback Kyle Juszczyk. Even if the writing was on the wall, that does not make it any easier to swallow especially for tight end George Kittle who had a heartbreaking reaction to the news.
Kittle took to social media and posted a very simple message that was nonetheless incredibly heartbreaking which can be viewed here. The veteran tight end simply posted two emojis, one of a heart breaking and another of a juice box.
Nothing more needed to be said.
Kittle has been teammates with "Juice," as he is affectionately known amongst fans, since his rookie season in 2017 which was the first year that the Niners signed the multi-purpose fullback. Both have been key parts of San Francisco's offense since then, but 2025 will be Kittle's first season without his good friend alongside him on the field. The two even attended Saturday Night Live recently along with running back Christian McCaffrey.
Kittle's wife Claire also took to social media by sharing all of the distraught responses to her Instagram story about Juszczyk being released. Probably the highlight of an otherwise forgettable 2024 season occurred when both Kittle and Juszczyk scored touchdowns against the Seattle Seahawks and both gifted the ball to their partners after scoring. At least the two couples got to have such an unforgettable moment together before being unceremoniously separated.
The move is clearly an unpopular one amongst Juszczyk's teammates and many fans. The front office will try to spin it as a necessary cost-cutting measure, but that only makes it feel more like a cruel and cold decision. Perhaps that is how things will be run now after the team's poor showing last season.
Sure, one could argue that paying over $6 million for a fullback who does not touch the ball that often is too much, but that ignores the impact Jusczyk makes as a blocker on offense, oftentimes creating openings for his teammates to exploit and run through. That is not even to mention the leadership role he played on the team as a veteran who served as a role model for younger players.
Nonetheless, the 49ers will now move on without their beloved fullback. It is a tough pill to swallow, especially for players like Kittle who have played their whole career with him, but it is emblematic of the cold reality the 49ers now find themselves in thanks to CEO Jed York's self-imposed cost-cutting edicts.