49ers $50m Brock Purdy decision imminent after historic $76.4m deal to Travis Kelce co-founder
George Kittle looks set to be granted his wish to retire as a San Francisco 49er. “My goal is to wear the red and gold my entire career,” he told ESPN on January 5. Brock Purdy and Kittle were both due huge extensions in 2025Getty Four months later, the 31-year-old smashed the record contract for a tight end with a four-year, $76.4 million extension that includes $40 million in guarantees — also an NFL high. Kittle, who sat out voluntary workouts as negotiations progressed, broke the news via the ‘Bussin’ With The Boys’ podcast after overtaking Arizona Cardinals sensation Trey McBride ($76 million) Tuesday. When he does retire, he will go down as one of the best ever in his position and leaves a legacy behind thanks to a partnership with fellow great Travis Kelce. The superstars are the co-founders of Tight End University alongside NFL icon-turned-broadcaster Greg Olsen. “Tight End University was created to bring the tight end community together for an immersive three-day program,” TEU’s official website reads. “Over the course of the summit, attendees are able to bond, collaborate with, and learn amongst their peers while participating in a variety of activities including film study, on-field drills, recovery, rehabilitation, and more. “In addition to current players, TEU also features several retired legends who provide attendees with the invaluable opportunity to learn from some of the best to ever play the game.” The 49ers were awful in 2024 but Kittle was his usual reliable self as he became one of five tight ends in league history to have four or more 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Kelce (seven), Rob Gronkowski, Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten (four each) are the others. He also passed New England Patriots icon Gronkowski for the second-most receiving yards by a tight end in his first eight seasons with 7,380. Kansas City Chiefs talisman Kelce leads the way with 7,881. Kittle founded Tight End University with KelceGetty View Tweet: https://twitter.com/BussinWTB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw “[He’s] better with time,” San Francisco linebacker Fred Warner said. “Like fine wine. “He’s doing a heck of a job. He’s always been great, but the fact that he’s making the plays that he’s making right now at this point in his career has been phenomenal.” San Francisco’s next priority is extending Brock Purdy. The quarterback signed a bargain rookie contract after going with the last pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. Now the time has come to pay up and Purdy is believed to be demanding in excess of $50 million annually. One prominent NFL account on X posted after Kittle news: “The #49ers’ next goal is to get a deal done with QB Brock Purdy — a contract that will expected $50M per year once finalized.“ NFL's Greatest...... Ranking the top 10...... Quarterbacks of all-time – Can anyone better Tom Brady? Wide receivers of all-time – Does Randy Moss or Jerry Rice come out on top? Running backs of all-time – Stacking Jim Brown, Barrie Sanders, Walter Payton, Emmett Smith and more Tight ends of all-time – How does Travis Kelce compare? It is unlikely 49ers chiefs would have sanctioned Kittle’s contract without knowing they could afford to keep the man who throws him the ball, suggesting a deal is close. Chris Canty — a Super Bowl-winning defensive end with the New York Giants — thinks so. “It feels like they have to be closer to setting the parameters on a Brock Purdy deal, why else would you commit resources and cap space to George Kittle in this time during the offseason,” Canty told ESPN’s Unsportsmanlike Radio. “I get it, this extension might lower current cap hit in 2025 but you gotta think about these extensions in multi-year terms. “You gotta make sure your salary cap is in great shape, not just for this year, but for the foreseeable future. “So sliding into the George Kittle contract before the Brock Purdy one seems counterintuitive but getting the Kittle deal done and allowing Kittle to reset the market at the tight end position in terms of new-money average makes me feel like they’re on the verge of getting something done.” Stay up to date with the latest from the NFL across all platforms – follow our NFL Facebook page, subscribe to our talkSPORT End Zone YouTube channel for all the offseason news, interviews and more.
George Kittle looks set to be granted his wish to retire as a San Francisco 49er.
“My goal is to wear the red and gold my entire career,” he told ESPN on January 5.
Four months later, the 31-year-old smashed the record contract for a tight end with a four-year, $76.4 million extension that includes $40 million in guarantees — also an NFL high.
Kittle, who sat out voluntary workouts as negotiations progressed, broke the news via the ‘Bussin’ With The Boys’ podcast after overtaking Arizona Cardinals sensation Trey McBride ($76 million) Tuesday.
When he does retire, he will go down as one of the best ever in his position and leaves a legacy behind thanks to a partnership with fellow great Travis Kelce.
The superstars are the co-founders of Tight End University alongside NFL icon-turned-broadcaster Greg Olsen.
“Tight End University was created to bring the tight end community together for an immersive three-day program,” TEU’s official website reads.
“Over the course of the summit, attendees are able to bond, collaborate with, and learn amongst their peers while participating in a variety of activities including film study, on-field drills, recovery, rehabilitation, and more.
“In addition to current players, TEU also features several retired legends who provide attendees with the invaluable opportunity to learn from some of the best to ever play the game.”
The 49ers were awful in 2024 but Kittle was his usual reliable self as he became one of five tight ends in league history to have four or more 1,000-yard receiving seasons.
Kelce (seven), Rob Gronkowski, Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten (four each) are the others.
He also passed New England Patriots icon Gronkowski for the second-most receiving yards by a tight end in his first eight seasons with 7,380. Kansas City Chiefs talisman Kelce leads the way with 7,881.
“[He’s] better with time,” San Francisco linebacker Fred Warner said. “Like fine wine.
“He’s doing a heck of a job. He’s always been great, but the fact that he’s making the plays that he’s making right now at this point in his career has been phenomenal.”
San Francisco’s next priority is extending Brock Purdy.
The quarterback signed a bargain rookie contract after going with the last pick of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Now the time has come to pay up and Purdy is believed to be demanding in excess of $50 million annually.
One prominent NFL account on X posted after Kittle news: “The #49ers’ next goal is to get a deal done with QB Brock Purdy — a contract that will expected $50M per year once finalized.“
NFL's Greatest......
Ranking the top 10......
Quarterbacks of all-time – Can anyone better Tom Brady?
Wide receivers of all-time – Does Randy Moss or Jerry Rice come out on top?
Running backs of all-time – Stacking Jim Brown, Barrie Sanders, Walter Payton, Emmett Smith and more
Tight ends of all-time – How does Travis Kelce compare?
It is unlikely 49ers chiefs would have sanctioned Kittle’s contract without knowing they could afford to keep the man who throws him the ball, suggesting a deal is close.
Chris Canty — a Super Bowl-winning defensive end with the New York Giants — thinks so.
“It feels like they have to be closer to setting the parameters on a Brock Purdy deal, why else would you commit resources and cap space to George Kittle in this time during the offseason,” Canty told ESPN’s Unsportsmanlike Radio.
“I get it, this extension might lower current cap hit in 2025 but you gotta think about these extensions in multi-year terms.
“You gotta make sure your salary cap is in great shape, not just for this year, but for the foreseeable future.
“So sliding into the George Kittle contract before the Brock Purdy one seems counterintuitive but getting the Kittle deal done and allowing Kittle to reset the market at the tight end position in terms of new-money average makes me feel like they’re on the verge of getting something done.”
Stay up to date with the latest from the NFL across all platforms – follow our NFL Facebook page, subscribe to our talkSPORT End Zone YouTube channel for all the offseason news, interviews and more.
