San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle had a historic performance against the Denver Broncos in Week 14, setting a new franchise record and barely missing out on an all-NFL record too.
When second-year tight end George Kittle took the field in Week 14, he knew he had a chance to set a new record for San Francisco 49ers tight ends. If he managed just 73 yards, he would surpass former Niners tight end Vernon Davis for the most single-season receiving yards by a tight end.
Davis, who set the record back in 2009 with 965 yards, watched his record with the 49ers fall on Sunday as San Francisco beat the visiting Denver Broncos 20-14.
Kittle, who had three catches already early in the game, surpassed Davis' total on a 52-yard reception in the first half to move into the No. 1 franchise spot at the position. Not long afterwards, Kittle ripped off an 85-yard catch-and-run touchdown -- one of two the 49ers would get on the day:
George Kittle adds 85 yards to his already-new franchise single-season receiving yard total for tight ends. Becomes the first #49ers 1,000-yard receiver since Anquan Boldin (2014) and the first 1,000-yard tight end for SF. #GoNiners #49wz pic.twitter.com/71bCrJ30T8
— Peter Panacy (@PeterPanacy) December 9, 2018
"It's what he's doing after the catch," head coach Kyle Shanahan told the media following the game. "He does a good job beating man coverage, he does a good job with his routes and he does a great job with his blocking. But when that ball is in the air, the play has just started. ... He runs angry and confidently."
Kittle finished with 210 yards on seven receptions and the touchdown. All in the first half.
"I don't think he gets enough credit for how athletic he is," cornerback Richard Sherman continued.
Ironically, those numbers would be all Kittle would get over the rest of the game. And as the game wore on into the fourth quarter, it became apparent Kittle had a realistic shot at beating another record -- a 2002 accolade set by then-Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe, who had 214 receiving yards in a single game that year.
That remains the record for tight ends in a single game. And Kittle admitted he didn't know about it until the fourth quarter. Neither did quarterback Nick Mullens.
"George had one heck of a day, four yards short of the record," Mullens told the media of his teammate barely missing the mark. "You can blame that on me, I guess."
Kittle took it in stride, however, admitting Shanahan even apologized for not getting the second-year pro more targets in the second half.
"Next time," Kittle joked about having a shot to break the record again.
The 49ers offense fell flat a bit in the second half, as the Broncos managed to score 14 unanswered points after halftime. Fortunately, the Niners defense managed to hold off a number of Denver fourth-down attempts late to ensure they'd come away with the Week 14 victory.
In the end, however, Kittle's record was easily the most impressive feat.
"It's an honor," Kittle answered when asked about breaking Davis' record with the 49ers. "Vernon Davis was one heck of a tight end who played here for 11 years. He set the standard."
Now Kittle owns that standard.