GLENDALE, Ariz. – Linebacker Tatum Bethune rapidly nixed any comparisons between Arizona Cardinals tight finish Trey McBride and 49ers counterpart George Kittle.
“Nah, nah, not at all. George, nobody is similar to George,” Bethune stated. “George is a unicorn.”
McBride, nonetheless, is the NFL’s solely tight finish in Kittle’s pay grade.
Three seasons into his profession, McBride parlayed his first Professional Bowl berth into the NFL’s richest contract ever for a good finish, signing a four-year, $76 million pact on April 3.
A couple of weeks later, Kittle surpassed that and agreed to a four-year, $76.4 million extension.
It’s McBride, nonetheless, who may imply extra to his respective staff come Sunday’s recreation between the host Cardinals (3-6) and the 49ers (6-4).
San Francisco 49ers’ George Kittle (85) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals’ Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (42) whereas making an attempt to get a primary down within the fourth quarter of their NFL recreation at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. The Arizona Cardinals defeated the San Francisco 49ers 24-23. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
As a result of smothering McBride is the No. 1 key to victory for the 49ers, we’ll dive deeper into that matchup, however first let’s rapidly rattle off the opposite 4 keys:
No. 2: Defend Brock Purdy’s proper large toe from one other relapse whereas additionally utilizing his mobility to elude Josh Sweat (eight sacks) and the inside push of 18th-year veteran Calais Campbell and rookie Walter Nolen.
No. 3: Spring Christian McCaffrey for his first run over 16 yards all season and additional pound a Cardinals protection that confronted 46 runs and allowed 198 yards in final Sunday’s 44-22 beatdown in Seattle.
No. 4: Cease Jacoby Brissett on third down, the place he’s delivered the NFL’s greatest conversion charge (50.9%) over his previous 4 begins whereas throwing 144 consecutive passes general since final getting intercepted.
No. 5: Keep away from turnovers, whether or not that goes for Purdy (eight interceptions his previous 5 begins) or some other ballcarrier, which is able to embody his fellow Arizona native Ricky Pearsall additionally getting back from a six-game hiatus to bolster their receiving corps past McCaffrey and Kittle.
San Francisco 49ers’ George Kittle (85) indicators autographs throughout warmups at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Space Information Group)
Talking of Kittle, he’s gotten to know McBride the previous two summers whereas the Cardinals’ catalyst has attended Tight Finish College that Kittle co-founded in Nashville. “Trey’s awesome. He got paid because he’s a heck of a football player,” Kittle stated. “He does the whole lot they want him to do in Arizona. He will get 8-to-14 targets a recreation and he deserves all these targets.
“He is, in my opinion, the focal point of that offense,” Kittle added. “When he’s clicking and they’re feeding him the ball, he’s getting first downs, he’s bringing the juice.”
With Brissett making his fifth straight begin instead of the damage Kyler Murray, the Cardinals received’t have vast receivers Marvin Harrison and Zay Jones, and don’t neglect they misplaced star working again James Conner to a season-ending foot damage in a 16-15 defeat to the 49ers on Sept. 21 at Levi’s Stadium.
“We always had eyes on him, but you know it’s probably coming a lot for sure, now,” Bethune stated of McBride’s targets.
San Francisco 49ers’ Tatum Bethune (48) leaves the sphere after their 20-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Space Information Group) Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Space Information Group.
Brissett has had his sights set on McBride since changing Murray, resulting in a team-high 46 targets for 32 catches and 5 touchdowns in that 1-3 stretch.
McBride, general this season, leads all NFL tight ends with 61 receptions (603 yards). His career-high six touchdowns match his whole from his earlier three seasons mixed. He’s scored in every of the previous two conferences with the 49ers.
“You know how hard it is to score,” McBride informed AZCardinals.com. “Obviously I haven’t scored a lot in my career. Every time I cross that line, it’s a huge thing for me.”
“McBride is physical,” Bethune stated. “Some guys simply need it. Many of the performs you see the ball in his fingers, he needs it. He needs to make performs.
“We just have to get him to the ground, man,” added Bethune, who leads the NFL with 60 tackles since Week 6. “And on those 50/50 balls, we have to fight to the end and get it out of his hands.”
The 49ers’ linebackers and defensive backs failed in that division final Sunday towards the Rams’ 4 tight ends, two of whom caught touchdowns of their 42-26 street win.
Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh wasn’t bashful at evaluating McBride to Kittle, saying: “He can block, run. He’s the complete package. Very similar to George in that regard. He’s made a name for himself pretty quick and he’s definitely a player that we’ve got to pay attention to.”
