George Kittle is not in any rush to walk away from football. The San Francisco 49ers star tight end still feels healthy, motivated, and committed to the game.
At 31 years old, he remains one of the most dominant players at his position in the NFL.
Kittle joined the Bussin’ with the Boys podcast to discuss his future, including how long he plans to play and what life might look like after football. His answer was as honest as it was humorous.
“Literally, [I’m going to play] until I don’t have fun anymore,” Kittle said. “Or if [his wife] Claire looks at me and goes, ‘You kinda look like s**t out there; you should retire.’ I’ll be like, ‘All right.'”
He added that he could imagine calling it quits if the physical demands became overwhelming.
“If I get to 35, and it hurts to put pants on in the morning, I think I’ll be like, ‘Ah, this isn’t that much fun anymore,’ and I’ll have a conversation with myself,” Kittle said. “But I’m feeling great right now.”
Kittle signed a four-year contract extension worth $76.4 million in 2020, which keeps him under contract with San Francisco through the 2029 season. If he plays through the end of that deal, he would be 36 by the time it expires.
Kittle hints at post-NFL dreams
While football remains his top focus, Kittle has already started thinking about what might come next. His most intriguing idea? A potential leap into the world of professional wrestling.
“I haven’t daydreamed about it or anything like that, but I’m definitely aware that there are potential opportunities and doors that could be open,” he said.
“So I’m just excited about that stuff. I would love to do WWE. I think there’s definitely opportunity within that world, and I would love nothing more than to be a part of it.”
Kittle, a lifelong WWE fan, was quick to clarify that he would not take the opportunity lightly. He explained that stepping into the ring would require real effort and preparation.
“My only question mark with that is I so much love being a fan of WWE,” he explained. “I would only do WWE if I bought a ring and practiced my ass off for a long time, so I wouldn’t look like an idiot out there.”
Kittle went on to describe his limited experience with professional wrestling: “I’ve been in a WWE ring like three times. I don’t know what I’m doing out there. I have an understanding of how it works, but I haven’t moonsaulted off the top rope at WrestleMania like Pat McAfee did.”
Kittle has already shown star power beyond the football field, appearing in commercials and attending high-profile wrestling events. His larger-than-life personality and intensity would likely make him a natural fit for WWE if he chooses to pursue that path.
In the meantime, he continues to produce at an elite level for the 49ers. Last season, Kittle led all NFL tight ends with an average of 14.2 yards per catch. He also topped 1,000 receiving yards for the fourth time in his career.
Kittle has 538 career receptions for 7,380 yards and 45 touchdowns across eight seasons. He has been named to six Pro Bowls and remains a central piece of the 49ers’ Super Bowl ambitions.
For now, George Kittle is focused on winning. But when the time comes, he may be just as comfortable climbing the ropes as he is crossing the goal line.
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