UPDATE — 1/11/26, 8:53 p.m. ET: San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed after his team’s win over the Philadelphia Eagles that tight end George Kittle suffered a torn achilles during the game.
“The trainers knew before the cart came out and got word to me in the headset. Yes, a torn Achilles,” Shanahan said, according to Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group.
Original story below.
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle was carted off the field during the second quarter of the team’s Sunday, January 11, Wild Card playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles after suffering an Achilles injury.
Kittle, 32, appeared to severely injure his right leg during the game, though he still was able to salute the crowd as he was carted to the locker room.
The star tight end caught a six-yard pass from quarterback Brock Purdy, then tried to push off his right leg and he was dragged to the ground by Eagles safety Marcus Epps.
Kittle immediately grabbed his leg, staying on the field after the play.
George Kittle Signs Historic Extension With 49ers After Offseason Drama
The 49ers medical staff tended to Kittle before the cart came out to drive him to the locker room.
The injury came on his only catch up to that point, and, soon after, Kittle was ruled out for the remainder of the game.
He gave a salute and started clapping to encourage his teammates as he made his way off the field. The crowd in Philadelphia gave Kittle a strong ovation as he was taken to the locker room.
Kittle touched on the raucous atmosphere in Philadelphia, saying he “appreciates” the “hate” (although it was quite the opposite after his injury).
“The one thing that’s really unique about Philly is that … any road team that goes in there, they hate all of us equally, and I just appreciate that,” Kittle told reporters on Thursday. “It’s incredibly loud, they flip you off, they moon you on the bus ride in, but they do that to anybody. … They just give you that no matter what, and I appreciate that because you can tell how much they love their team.”
He continued: “The only thing that matters to us is beating the Eagles. Back in the Linc where it’s going to be a hostile environment. They have an excellent environment, and we’re going to have to score points.”
Kittle — who signed a four-year, $76.4 million contract with the 49ers in April — has been battling injury all year, playing in just 11 games this season. Most recently, he missed the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears with an ankle injury, but was back for the regular season finale against the Seattle Seahawks.
Despite the missed time, he finished the year with 628 yards and seven touchdowns on 57 catches — enough for a Pro Bowl selection, the seventh of his career.
George Kittle Spends $250K a Year for His Body During Football Season
Back in June, Kittle admitted to spending nearly $250,000 per year to keep his body in shape for the football season.
“In season anywhere from $150,000 to $200,000 per season, especially like the last three years at least,” Kittle said on the “Bussin’ With the Boys” podcast on June 24. “I mean, in total with everything I bought, add another $200K on top of that too.”
Kittle said his focus on staying fit came after he injured his foot during the 2020 season.
“I had that dilemma after the 2020 season because I broke my foot,” he recalled. “I got f***ed up a little bit, and I was like, ‘Damn, I really have to be on this s***.’ That’s why I dove so [heavily] into stem cells. I do a brain scan once a year.”
