STATELINE, Nev. — A giddy George Kittle signed a slew of No. 85 jerseys 49ers’ followers wore within the rising gallery. He posed for footage, threw autographed footballs to beachcombers on the Seventeenth-hole shoreline, and easily turned a right away fan favourite.
This was his grand entrance to the American Century Championship movie star golf match.
However first, he began a picturesque, sunny day at Lake Tahoe in pure Kittle vogue: “Oh my gosh, I was in the water this morning at 6. It was great.”
He’d by no means performed Edgewood Tahoe Golf Resort till Thursday’s pro-am, and his hunched-over placing stance paid off with a Sixteenth-hole birdie.
San Francisco 49ers tight finish George Kittle performs Thursday, July 10, 2025 within the American Century Championship movie star golf match’s pro-am at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Resort. (Cam Inman/Bay Space Information Group)
Kittle will tee off in Friday’s first spherical at 8:45 a.m. with NFL alumni Larry Fitzgerald Jr. and Dwight Freeney, whereas 49ers teammate Kyle Juszczyk goes off the back-nine at 8:43 a.m. with Jerome Bettis and Marcus Allen.
After the match concludes Sunday, Kittle will fly again to his Nashville-area residence for a 5-day refueling earlier than a return flight to California for his ninth coaching camp with the 49ers; July 22 is when all veterans should report.
Kittle is probably the most prolific tight finish in 49ers historical past and trails solely Jerry Rice and Terrell Owens for many receptions and receiving yards; Kittle’s 538 receptions are 55 shy of passing Owens for the No. 2 spot behind Rice (1,281).
“I’m excited that the boys are healthy going into training camp, and I’m excited to see our new defense,” Kittle stated. “Actually I’m excited to go against Saleh again. That will be really fun.”
Not so enjoyable was final season’s 6-11 plummet out of the NFC throne, nor this offseason’s exodus of over 20 gamers, just a few of which have been on offense, together with broad receiver Deebo Samuel and guard Aaron Banks.
Stated Kittle: “Deebo’s Deebo and will always be amazing. Aaron Banks played really, really well for us but I’m excited about Ben Bartch because I love him as a guy. I’m just looking forward to guys taking advantage of the opportunities because we lost some guys. I still feel like we should be able to score points.”
The match’s marquee attraction is 2023 match champion Steph Curry, though Kittle hinted that fellow tight finish Travis Kelce may upstage everybody if his girlfriend, Taylor Swift, makes a cameo like she did earlier this month at Tight Finish College that Kittle and Kelce hosted in Nashville.
“You never know what Travis can do,” Kittle stated. “He’s an interesting cat and he is kind of a magician that pulls anything out of his sleeve.”
Simply don’t count on Swift to indicate up within the gallery.
“Oh my goodness, she’ll probably be in a helicopter,” Kittle stated with fun.