George Kittle

George Krieger Kittle was born October 9, 1993, in Madison, Wisconsin, into a family where football was essentially a third parent. His father Bruce Kittle played offensive line at Iowa, and the family's move to Iowa City from Wisconsin when George was in high school placed him on a path toward becoming a Hawkeye himself. His mother Jan and sister Emma helped shape a household that prized toughness, discipline, and loud personalities — traits George has carried his entire career.

Kittle attended Norman Community High School in Oklahoma briefly before transferring to Cedar Falls High School in Iowa, where he developed as a tight end in a region with relatively little national exposure. His recruitment was modest, and he signed with Iowa — his father's alma mater — where he spent four seasons developing behind more heralded teammates. He was a lightly regarded college player who ended up attending the NFL Combine and delivering a workout that dramatically elevated his draft stock.

The San Francisco 49ers selected Kittle in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft, pick 146 overall, in what has become one of the most famous draft value picks of the modern era. His 2018 season produced 88 catches for 1,377 yards — the single-season receiving yards record for a tight end at the time — and earned him first-team All-Pro recognition.

Kittle has established himself as one of the most complete tight ends in NFL history, combining elite-level receiving production with the best run blocking at the position in the modern game. He has been selected to multiple Pro Bowls and earned multiple first-team All-Pro honors, cementing his status among the greatest tight ends of all time.

His career résumé includes multiple All-Pro selections, Pro Bowl appearances, Super Bowl LIV and LVIII appearances, and widespread recognition as the gold standard for two-way tight end play. His production across multiple quarterbacks and offensive coordinators has demonstrated unusual versatility and adaptability.

Off the field, Kittle married Claire Till, a former Iowa women's basketball player, in 2019. He has become one of the NFL's most visible personalities through his professional wrestling appearances with WWE, including storyline involvement at multiple WrestleMania events. He maintains endorsement partnerships with Bud Light, Nike's Jordan Brand, and others, and he runs the Tight End University event each summer with Kelce and Greg Olsen — an annual gathering that has become one of the most respected position-specific training programs in football.