Kittle racked up an impressive 1,106 receiving yards this season, marking his fourth season surpassing the 1,000-yard mark, and added eight touchdowns—his second-highest total after 11 in 2022.
Despite competition from tight ends like Brock Bowers of the Las Vegas Raiders and Trey McBride of the Arizona Cardinals, Kittle's efficiency set him apart when it came time for the Next Gen Stats analytics team to assemble its honorary squad.
"Kittle finished third among all tight ends in receiving yards despite running more than 100 fewer routes and logging 30 fewer catches than either Bowers or McBride," the analytics team explained. "Kittle's efficiency is clear in his 313 receiving yards over expected, the highest mark by far among tight ends. In fact, he's the only player at his position to surpass 200. Simply put, no tight end maximized his opportunities quite like Kittle ... and that's not even factoring in his impact as a blocker in the running game. The 49ers averaged 5.1 yards per carry when Kittle was on the field (330 plays) compared with 3.9 when he wasn't (127 plays)."
Kittle also received the highest Pro Football Focus grade among tight ends. His 92.1 offensive grade ranked second to all pass-catchers, with only Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua earning a higher mark (92.8).
Kittle is entering the final year of his contract with the 49ers but has expressed his desire to stay with the team long-term, so an extension isn't out of the question.
"I want to be a Niner for my entire career," Kittle recently said. "I love wearing the red and gold. And whatever the front office wants to do, I'm all ears."
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
ESPN proposes 49ers trade for All-Pro safety Jessie Bates
The San Francisco 49ers have no shortage of competition at safety during training camp, with Ji'Ayir Brown and Marques Sigle among the players battling for a starting role. However, ESPN's Seth Walder believes the team could strengthen its secondary by making a significant... -
49ers record prediction has team missing playoffs during 2026 season
The battle for the NFC West crown in 2026 should be a competitive one, but some believe that competition could ultimately lead to trouble for the San Francisco 49ers. Bleacher Report's Moe Moton recently released his record predictions for the 2026 NFL season, and he has the... -
49ers QB Kurtis Rourke back at facility after hospital visit
According to Matt Barrows of The Athletic, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Kurtis Rourke was back at the team facility Friday following an injury scare during Thursday night's preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans. Rourke left the game in the second quarter and was... -
Kyle Shanahan, Brock Purdy share updates after 49ers-Titans joint practice
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and quarterback Brock Purdy spoke with reporters after Tuesday's joint practice with the Tennessee Titans. Here's everything they had to say. Transcripts provided by the San Francisco 49ers Communications staff. Head Coach Kyle...