George Kittle has caught passes from a long list of quarterbacks since the San Francisco 49ers drafted him in 2017—names like Brian Hoyer, Nick Mullens, Jimmy Garoppolo, and now, Brock Purdy. But the All-Pro tight end hopes that Purdy is the last name on that list, especially after the 49ers recently signed the 25-year-old quarterback to a massive five-year, $265 million contract extension.

Kittle sat down with NBC Sports’ Laura Britt on Wednesday during the 2025 Dwight Clark Legacy Series event and was asked about the next step in Purdy’s development.

“One thing I’ve already seen from Brock this offseason, just being back around for all of [the offseason program] and stuff, is just his voice is heard significantly more in the building, which I love, whether he’s breaking down the team, talking in the locker room. He’s always kind, he’s always nice to everybody, but he’s just more vocal to everybody in team settings, which is huge.

“And people, when they hear the quarterback talk, your head kind of snaps. That’s what you listen for because he’s the face, the leader of the team. And so, when you have a guy like that, who’s continually growing … it’s just awesome to see a young guy keep his feet in the ground, and then want to work hard, and want to make all the guys around him really good. So, that’s one of the things I’ve just been happy with seeing.”

Kittle believes having stability at quarterback bodes well for the team—and his own performance.

“I think, just the more that Brock is in this system, and Coach [Kyle] Shanahan can tailor the things that Brock likes,” Kittle added, “and kind of shape our offense in that way, it’s a lot easier to do that when you have a steady hand at quarterback, the guy who’s going to be here for a while, so you can build the whole thing around him and make it easy on him, which then, in turn, makes it easy on me, which I like.”

Don’t dismiss the 49ers in 2025

The 49ers have faced their share of criticism this offseason, with media pundits pointing to roster turnover and the loss of key players like Dre Greenlaw, Talanoa Hufanga, and Deebo Samuel. Some have speculated that another challenging season may be ahead for the Bay Area squad. Kittle acknowledges the loss of veteran leadership but is confident the front office has reloaded with promising young talent from the draft.

Offensively, Kittle points out that the only starters the team lost were Samuel and left guard Aaron Banks. With Purdy, Trent Williams, Christian McCaffrey, Jauan Jennings, Brandon Aiyuk, and others returning, the 49ers’ offense still boasts plenty of firepower.

The team also made some under-the-radar additions in free agency—moves Kittle believes could pay off.

“When you can bring in guys who are kind of like-minded to the culture that we’ve established, it kind of just allows you to keep that culture going and feed these new guys into it,” Kittle said. “Yes, we’re going to look different. I think we’re going to look a little bit more different on defense and offense, but I think the way that we drafted, the free agents that we brought in, we have the opportunity to go out there and compete in a lot of football games.”

The San Francisco 49ers recently took their quarterback, Brock Purdy, from Mr. Irrelevant to one of the top-paid quarterbacks in the league. The team gave Purdy a five-year, $265 million contract extension.

The new deal generated a lot of buzz around the league, sparking debate over Purdy’s value to the 49ers. Some believe it is a lot for a quarterback doing little more than driving a well-equipped car. Others feel that Purdy does not get the respect he deserves.

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George Kittle Sees a New Leader Emerging in Brock Purdy

Recently, 49ers star tight end George Kittle spoke with Laura Britt from NBC Sports. Kittle certainly understands the importance of a new contract; San Francisco just made him the highest-paid tight end in the league after inking him to a new four-year contract extension for $76.4 million. Context is important.

Kittle told Britt (via 49ers Webzone) that he thinks it is vital to have stability at the quarterback position. He said that it not only helps his performance but also helps the whole team. When asked about the next step in Purdy’s development, he indicated he has already seen growth.

“One thing I’ve already seen from Brock this offseason, just being back around for all of [the offseason program] and stuff, is just his voice is heard significantly more in the building, which I love, whether he’s breaking down the team, talking in the locker room. He’s always kind, he’s always nice to everybody, but he’s just more vocal to everybody in team settings, which is huge,” Kittle said about the change he’s already witnessed.

Leader: 49ers Brock Purdy took less money because he doesn’t need every penny for himself and wants his team to win: “Obviously, I want to get what I deserve, also surround myself with guys around me. Not just try to take every penny for myself.” He signed a 5-year, $265M deal… pic.twitter.com/RgBLEd2vPp — Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 22, 2025

“And people, when they hear the quarterback talk, your head kind of snaps. That’s what you listen for because he’s the face, the leader of the team,” added Kittle about Purdy’s impact in the facility this offseason.

Kittle said it is “awesome” to see a young player grow the way Purdy has. When Purdy was drafted last — literally, pick 262 in Round 7 — in 2022, Kittle had already been an established veteran on the team for several years.

Having Purdy on the roster has been good for Kittle’s stats. While he performed well under Jimmy Garoppolo, he has consistently scored more touchdowns with Purdy.

Purdy: From Brady Slayer to Super Bowl Dreams

Ever since Purdy stepped on the field in 2022, he has been surprising people. He was the first “Mr. Irrelevant” to throw a touchdown pass in a regular-season game. Then he became the only quarterback to beat Tom Brady in his first career start.

He caught fans’ attention, and they were excited and cheering for this unlikely hero. In 2023, Purdy helped the San Francisco 49ers get to the Super Bowl, but they lost 25-22 to the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime. Purdy threw for 255 yards and one touchdown.

The 2024 season wasn’t as successful as anyone would have liked. However, the team was plagued by injuries. As they head into 2025, everyone in San Francisco hopes that a full-strength team, led by this newly invigorated Purdy, will help them win another Lombardi.

Brock Purdy is showing significant growth in leadership as the San Francisco 49ers prepare for the 2025 season. After struggling in the previous year with injuries and a 6-11 finish, Purdy’s recent contract extension worth $265 million indicates the team’s trust in him. Tight end George Kittle has noted that Purdy has become more vocal and authoritative within the team, essential for solidifying his role as the quarterback. As the 49ers face off-season challenges, both players have received substantial pay increases, reflecting their importance to the team’s future.

Brock Purdy signed a five-year contract worth $265 million.

George Kittle received a four-year extension valued at $76 million.

In 2023, Purdy posted a 65.9% completion rate, 3,864 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.

Despite Purdy’s contract and leadership improvements, questions remain about his true value, as some analysts suggest his previous success was due to the team’s strong supporting cast rather than his abilities.

The 49ers are recovering from a tumultuous offseason, losing several key players.

Purdy’s transition to a more vocal leader may enhance team dynamics moving forward.

The 49ers will focus on building around Purdy and Kittle, as they navigate roster changes and aim for improvement in the upcoming season.

For the 49ers, the success of the upcoming season hinges on Purdy’s development as a leader and his ability to deliver on the high expectations set by his new contract.

The San Francisco 49ers were able to come to an agreement on a four-year extension with George Kittle this past month and now the veteran tight end is looking to help the franchise do the same with another key member of the offense.

It is no secret that the 49ers are working to secure a long-term contract with starting quarterback Brock Purdy. Considering that Purdy has ascended from being Mr. Irrelevant in the 2022 NFL Draft to being the man under center in San Francisco, the former Iowa State University standout is in line for a massive payday.

Using his first experience going through extension negotiations with the Niners, Kittle shared some advice that veteran defensive back Richard Sherman provided him with during his tenure in San Francisco.

“The first time I was going through contract negotiations in 2020, it was just a long process,” Kittle said, via Jennifer Lee Chan of NBCSportsBayArea.com. “And he just said, ’Hey, look. Contracts are like braces, you hate them, they look terrible, the entire time they are doing them but the second you get them off, you have a beautiful smile and a bag of cash and you won’t remember anything about the braces.’

“That is a great quote, I’ve already used that quote on Brock, not to bring him into this but I already used that quote for him and he likes it as well. It was much quicker. We got it done in a month-ish, so I was very excited about that. It was a lot different than last time, when it was like seven months.”

Now that the shoe is on the other foot for Kittle, he is hopeful that he can serve the same type of role that Sherman did for him when facing his own decision on an extension in San Francisco. Given the type of vocal leader he has been on and off of the field throughout his professional career, the fact he wants to go out of his way to help the next generation of 49ers is a testament to the man he is.

“I was like, ‘That was awesome.’ And that is exactly how you feel about it,” Kittle said, per Chan. “I was thankful to have a leader like that. Sherm gave me those tips and as long as I can pass those down to other guys, it’s very helpful.”

It remains to be seen just how long it will take for Purdy and San Francisco’s front office to come to terms on a deal but, at the very least, Niners fans can take solace in knowing that Kittle is doing his best to keep Purdy in the Bay Area for years to come.

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