Accolades and Hall of Fame comparisons pile up for 49ers star George Kittle

The accolades are piling up for George Kittle as the stellar start to his NFL career continues. And he knows all about them.

Not because he spends time researching statistical records or where his Pro Football Focus grade stacks up.

“Everything that has my name on it, my mom screen shots it and sends it to me,” Kittle told The Bee this week. “She does a good job of that.”

Kittle’s mother, Jan Krieger, apprised the 49ers star tight end he’s Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded player in the NFL this season — at any position. He’s percentage points better than two-time reigning defensive player of the year Aaron Donald, a hero of the analytics community.

An elite player but MVP award unlikely

Kittle is reaching similar status for his work as an elite run blocker while being the most indispensable player on the team with the best record in football. He’ll unlikely ever garner MVP consideration given the award generally goes to quarterbacks and running backs exclusively.

The last time a player at a different position won MVP was defensive end Lawrence Taylor in 1986. But 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan would argue Kittle’s impact on his team is as important as any player in the league.

“I know I feel that way and pretty sure that everyone we play against would answer it the same way I just did,” Shanahan said. “He’s playing at a different level out there. The will he plays with, the aggressiveness he plays with, and he’s not out of control, either. It’s a different level, a different mindset and I think everyone can feel that, especially the players trying to tackle him.”

Additionally, Kittle had another record on his mind this season. Thanks, mom.

“Ditka?” Kittle asked. “Yeah, my mom sent me that too.”

Kittle needed 129 yards over the last three games to surpass Chicago Bears Hall of Famer Mike Ditka for the most receiving yards ever through three seasons. Ditka had 2,774.

“I told Jimmy (Garoppolo) we need 130 yards. ‘Don’t screw me,’” Kittle quipped.

It worked. Kittle finished with 2,945 yards. Behind him Ditka and two other all-time tight ends: Jimmy Graham (2,648) and Rob Gronkowski (2,663).

Which is fitting because the comparisons between Kittle and Gronkowski are beginning to have more validity. Kittle last season broke Gronkowski’s single-season record for tight ends with 1,377 yards. Kittle’s back to playing at an elite level this year even if he falls short of those receiving totals. He’s on pace for 959 yards despite missing two games against the Seahawks and Cardinals last month.

It’s appropriate to compare the two because of the multifaceted skill sets they share.

“I think the biggest thing that people don’t really talk about is just the way that they both run block,” Garoppolo told The Bee after being teammates with Gronkowski for three-plus seasons in New England. “Not many tight ends in this league run block. And for Rob and George being two of the best at their positions, when they do run block and they are able to catch and run like that, it’s such a unique combination. I think that’s what really separates them from everyone else.”

Consistency and Gronkowski comparisons

Kittle and Gronkowski both have big, affable personalities that rub off on their teammates. Gronkowski was known for his meat-headed, party boy behavior while Kittle is an impassioned wrestling fan who regularly shares social media posts featuring his wife, Claire.

Kittle may be more even-keeled than Gronkowski. Patriots coach Bill Belichick recently revealed Gronkowski fell asleep during a predraft meeting in New England before he was taken in the second round in 2010 after an injury-plagued college career at Arizona.

Kittle is known for bringing the same energy each day, which is one of the things his teammates appreciate.

“He’s very consistent with it,” Garoppolo said. “Not that Gronk wasn’t. Some days it was extreme, and some days it was a little less. But George is so consistent, right down the middle. They’re great guys to be around. People love being around them. It’s contagious.”

An important distinction between Kittle and Gronkowski is the slew of big games Gronkowski played in. He appeared in 16 postseason games in which he caught 81 passes for 1,163 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Kittle made his postseason debut in January.

“Gronk is, in my opinion, he’s like the pinnacle of the tight end position,” Kittle said. “So I appreciate having some type of comparison to him. I think I have a long way to go before I reach anything like that level, (like) the amount of big games that he played in and performed in.”

Kittle had a big-game performance of his own in December against New Orleans. It included the biggest play of his career when he rumbled for 39 yards on a fourth down inside the final minute, while getting dragged by the face mask, to set up the game-winning field goal against the New Orleans Saints.

Kittle said he received congratulatory messages for the play that included carrying three Saints players into field goal range.

“Brett Favre hit me up, that was pretty cool. Kurt Warner did too,” he said. “Honestly, one of my favorites, Smash Mouth hit me up. That was cool. Apparently they’re diehard Niner fans. ... Jimmy even said I did a good job, so that’s good. He talks to me once in a while.”

Kittle’s mom, Jan, undoubtedly did, too.

This story was originally published December 15, 2019 at 6:07 AM with the headline "Accolades and Hall of Fame comparisons pile up for 49ers star George Kittle."