Our fans have been choosing an MVP on an annual basis since after the 1998 season when quarterback Steve Young became the first player to win the honor. Since then, just three tight ends have won. They are Eric Johnson (2004), Vernon Davis (2009), and last season's recipient, George Kittle.
Now, Kittle becomes the first tight end and just the fourth player to be named the fan-choice MVP multiple times.
Kittle, 26, earned an overwhelming 53.72 percent of the fan votes, while quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo came in second with 27.14 percent of the votes.
Kittle, who was voted to his second Pro Bowl and was named a first-team All-Pro this season, finished 2019 with 85 catches for 1,053 receiving yards and five touchdowns through 14 games. He became just the fifth player and first tight end in franchise history to record multiple 1,000-yard-receiving seasons.
The 49ers made Kittle a fifth-round selection out of Iowa in 2017. He has caught 216 passes for 2,945 yards with 12 touchdowns through his three NFL seasons.
Kittle's 2,945 receiving yards set a new record for the most by any tight end in his first three seasons. Mike Ditka previously held the record with 2,774 receiving yards.
Kittle's overall Pro Football Focus grade of 95.0 is the highest by a tight end during the analytics site's existence, surpassing Rob Gronkowski's mark of 92.0 in 2011.
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