49ers Tight End George Kittle Signs Extension With Team Through 2029

49ers tight end George Kittle has made it clear. He wants to finish his career as a San Francisco 49er.

Kittle signed a four-year contract extension worth $76.4 million, the 49ers announced last week. Kittle provided the details of the contract on the “Bussin’ With the Boys” podcast – $40 million of the contract is guaranteed.

Kittle has previously said that his goal is to wear “red and gold” his entire career. This contract takes him one step closer to that goal.

Kittle’s extension brings him an annual value of $19.1 million, giving him the largest average per year for a tight end in NFL history, just ahead of Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride.

During his tenure in San Francisco, Kittle has been one of the best tight ends in the league. He’s finished with over 1,000 receiving yards in four of his eight seasons, including two straight. In 2024, he finished with 78 receptions for 1,106 yards and eight touchdowns.

Kittle, a fifth-round pick in 2017, has far exceeded expectations for his career. While his career is far from over, this extension solidifies his next step.

“In 2017, our first year with the 49ers, we selected a skinny tight end from Iowa whom we were really excited about,” GM John Lynch said in a statement. “We had high hopes, but no one knew that he would become the player that he is today.”

The 49ers are coming off a six-win season, far below the preseason expectations. Locking up Kittle until 2029 is the first step to improving the outlook for the future.