The Cardinals' Trey McBride enjoys his personal and team rivalry with the 49ers' own, George Kittle.
Most NFL fans would agree the San Francisco 49ers have the best all-around tight end in the NFL, George Kittle. And the other fans would probably suggest a player on the Kansas City Chiefs instead.
Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride isn't in that conversation. At least not yet.
But McBride certainly hopes to be.
The Red Birds' second-round pick from 2022 out of Colorado State fully broke out in 2024, notching his first 1,000-yard season en route to his first Pro Bowl. And he certainly is threatening to be a thorn in the Niners' side for years to come.
One of McBride's motivations is playing Kittle-esque football.
"I think George is a guy that sticks out to me," McBride told DJ Siddiqi of SportsCasting.com. "He’s a guy who is such an elite player in both the run game and the pass game. That’s something I think that makes a great tight end is being able to do both. I love watching him play. I love playing in the same division as him."
Kittle, of course, has reached 1,000-plus yards receiving four times over his illustrious career, one that now includes six Pro Bowl honors and two first-team All-Pro accolades.
Of course, McBride and Kittle playing in the same division adds to the rivalry, not just between the two tight ends but also between San Francisco and Arizona.
"We play twice a year and I’m always trying to one-up him," the 25-year-old McBride added. "He has 20 yards, I want 21 yards. He has three catches, I want four catches. It’s one of those things where it’s a great, competitive rivalry that we have and he’s also a great person, great friend of mine and I love playing against him every year."
McBride's Cardinals defeated Kittle's 49ers both times in 2024, and the hope is for the Niners to bounce back from what was a frustrating season and last-place finish within the NFC West.
On the flip side, McBride and Co. hope the Cardinals can emerge as a dominant force within the division, pushing an aging San Francisco squad (Kittle included) to the periphery.
Either way, the tight end rivalry is one that should pan out well in front of fans of both teams.