George Kittle inks extension to stay with 49ers through 2029

Just after wrapping up his eighth NFL season, George Kittle made one thing clear — he wants to retire a 49er. Now, he’s taken a major step in that direction.

The star tight end has signed a four-year contract extension with San Francisco, keeping him with the team through the 2029 season. Kittle revealed on the “Bussin’ With The Boys” podcast that the deal is worth $76.4 million, including $40 million guaranteed. It’s also expected to significantly lower his previously scheduled $22 million cap hit in 2025.

“In 2017, our first year, we drafted a skinny tight end from Iowa,” said GM John Lynch. “No one could have predicted the player and leader he’d become.”

Kittle, 31, has always been vocal about his desire to stay in San Francisco for his entire career. While this extension doesn’t guarantee that, it gives him a great shot at joining the franchise’s exclusive 10-Year Club — honoring players with a decade of service to the team.

Coming off one of his best seasons yet — 1,106 receiving yards, eight touchdowns, and a league-best 14.2 yards per catch among tight ends — Kittle earned his sixth Pro Bowl and fifth All-Pro selection. He also became just the fifth tight end in NFL history with at least four 1,000-yard seasons and moved past Rob Gronkowski for the second-most receiving yards by a tight end through eight seasons (7,380), trailing only Travis Kelce.

“He’s like fine wine,” said linebacker Fred Warner. “Always been great, but somehow keeps getting better.”