As always, the 49ers tight end was one of the most excited individuals in the stadium that day. The video shows Kittle encouraging and congratulating his teammates, including rookie quarterback Trey Lance, who made his first start at Levi's Stadium.
At about the 3:40 mark, you can see an enthusiastic Kittle celebrating a touchdown with his teammates—and being just as physical as he is when the play clock is running.
"You. Yes, yes, yes, you," Kittle yells while pointing at Lance before running over to the quarterback—and including wide receiver Deebo Samuel in the process. "You're a dog! Good job, Trey! Yes, you f--king dog!"
Then Kittle ran over to his head coach, Kyle Shanahan, and nearly knocked him out. This wasn't an isolated incident. From the looks of the video, Kittle was set to 110 percent the entire game.
Shanahan was asked about Kittle's level of enthusiasm on game days. The coach admits to sometimes feeling in danger when around the fiery tight end.
"I would rather Trey avoid Kittle after plays," Shanahan jokingly told reporters. "I appreciate the encouragement, but Kittle, for some reason, can't control his aggressiveness. Trey definitely can handle it better than me, but I run from Kittle after good things because he will not change how he hits people, no matter what."
On Sunday, Shanahan failed to avoid Kittle and was the recipient of the physical embodiment of the tight end's enthusiasm.
"Whether they have pads on or not, whether they are on your team, he just gets too excited," Shanahan added. "So the best thing is to avoid Kittle in those moments because he is an injury waiting to happen."
Kittle and his teammates hope to bring that same level of enthusiasm to SoFi Stadium on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams. The 49ers can clinch a playoff berth with a win in the regular-season finale. Should that happen, Shanahan is unlikely to criticize how the Kittle celebrates.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
Sherman: Deebo Samuel trade could benefit George Kittle, other 49ers playmakers
Tight end George Kittle led the San Francisco 49ers last season with 1,106 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, marking his fourth career 1,000-yard season. Now, one former teammate, Richard Sherman, believes Kittle's role in head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense could see a... -
Top TE prospect Tyler Warren talks glowingly of George Kittle, 49ers 'fun scheme'
The San Francisco 49ers have the No. 11 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, a spot that—if you've been keeping track of endless speculation—has the team likely taking one of several top offensive linemen or defensive linemen expected to be available there. A choice... -
John Lynch reveals where the 49ers stand on George Kittle's contract
George Kittle is eager to be a Niner for life, and the San Francisco 49ers share that sentiment. Earlier this month, the All-Pro tight end revealed that he believes discussions about a potential contract extension between the team and his agent have occurred. "Waiting on... -
49ers reporter would love to see Davante Adams in the Bay Area
If the San Francisco 49ers want to get younger this offseason, pursuing 32-year-old Davante Adams might not be the ideal strategy. The New York Jets are shopping Adams, but there's little chance that general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan would trade for the...