Over the course of his career, San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle has done more than just put up his own numbers and earn accolades.
The six-time Pro Bowler has been a constant at the tight end position for years now, but has also offered a ton of support for others at his position over the course of his career. Even going so far as to form Tight End University back in 2021 alongside Travis Kelce and Greg Olsen, Kittle has gone far and above to try and develop peers while continuing to work on his craft.
It is no coincidence that just a year after forming TEU, one of the top tight end prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft has now seen year-over-year success by modeling part of his game after Kittle's.
In a recent interview done with Fansided's own Patrick Allen and Sterling Holmes of Stacking the Box, Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride credited Kittle with having an impact on his young career.
Trey McBride couldn't have picked a better veteran to model his game after than George Kittle
Speaking on behalf of his partnership with Arizona-based Rockin' Protein, McBride had some glowing words in regards to Kittle and his skill set.
"George Kittle is another guy that sticks out to me. He's such an asset in the run game and the pass game. He does everything the right way," McBride said.
McBride was then asked about whether or not he hates run plays. But, his answer is very reminiscent of how Kittle plays the game. It's not hard to see Kittle's imprints all over the young, ascending tight end.
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"I don't hate it," McBride admitted. "I think it actually helps me out a little bit. A lot of my catches are off of play action ... being an asset in the run game actually helps catch the ball. They (the defense) don't buy it if you never block ... if you can block a little bit it definitely helps get you open in the long run."
He is not wrong, here. McBride knows exactly what it takes to be a quality tight end in this league, and it's exactly what Kittle has done for his entire career.
Being an asset in the run game is only going to open things up if you're a talented pass catcher, and that's precisely what McBride is striving after.
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