The San Francisco 49ers have enjoyed their share draft steals during the tenure of general manager John Lynch. However, none have surprised the fan base or resonated with them more than tight George Kittle.
Kittle's physicality, selflessness and pure joy of playing the game is both fun to watch and emblematic of the 49ers' approach under head coach Kyle Shanahan. His accolades speak for themselves, but his impact is felt in a broader sense by watching him go at it on each play every Sunday.
Given his work load and violent play style, it is a miracle that Kittle has only missed 19 games in eight seasons, with eight of them coming in 2020. The shelf life for NFL players, especially tight ends, is typically short, but Kittle has defied this notion at every turn during his career.
George Kittle is not planning on retirement any time soon
On Tuesday, Kittle was featured as a guest on the latest episode of "Bussin' With The Boys," a podcast hosted by former NFL players Will Compton and Taylor Lewan. When the two asked Kittle about when he expected to retire, he gave the answer every 49ers fan wanted to hear.
"Literally until I don’t have fun anymore. ... Or if [my wife] Claire looks at me and goes, 'You kinda look like (expletive) out there, you should retire,'" Kittle said. "I don’t know, I think if I get to 35 and it hurts to put pants on in the morning, I think I’ll be like, 'Ah, this isn't that much fun anymore,' and I'll have a conversation with myself. But I'm feeling great right now."
Although it is unlikely that Kittle had much fun during last year's six-win campaign, the point holds that the veteran tight end is still enjoying the game. Plus, he said that he feels great right now, which is promising heading into a pivotal season for San Francisco.
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Kittle is still just 31 years old, so a reality where he is 35 and unable to put on his pants in the morning is a conversation set for a few years down the road. He just completed his fourth straight season with a Pro Bowl appearance and third straight landing on the All-Pro team, so he is still firmly in his prime.
All told, the former Iowa Hawkeye has five All-Pro honors and six Pro Bowls to his name in the seven healthy seasons that he has played. Father Time still has some work to do if he wants to catch up with Kittle.
The day that this 49ers legend retires will be a sad day for all Bay Area sports fans, but fortunately, it seems like that reality won't set in at any point in the immediate future.