“Win one for George” may never replace “Win one for the Gipper” as football’s most famous rallying cry, but it could carry the San Francisco 49ers all the way to a Super Bowl game at home.
Already playing without their muscles, after losing passer Nick Bosa in Week 3 and middle linebacker Fred Warner in Week 6, the Niners must now proceed without their heart and soul.
Seven-time Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle is out for the season after suffering an Achilles injury in the first half of San Francisco’s 23-19 win over the NFC wild card at Philadelphia on Sunday.
“This team has carried the character of George Kittle all year long, and since I was traded here, he’s been the heart and soul of this team and so it’s a tough loss, man. When he doesn’t play, it means a lot,” running back Christian McCaffrey said after dashing the Eagles’ Super Bowl repeat hopes.
Kittle was injured after catching his first pass of the game for 5 yards. During the regular season, he missed six games with hamstring and ankle injuries, but still finished second on the team in catches (57), tied for second in touchdown receptions (seven), and third in receiving yards (628).
Kittle, 32, is in his ninth season with the 49ers and just became the third player in franchise history with more than 8,000 receiving yards, joining Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Terrell Owens.
Kittle was there when San Francisco lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowls LIV and LVIII. However, he won’t be in uniform if the 49ers somehow manage to get home for Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium on February 8.
That quest continues in next week’s NFC divisional round at top-seeded Seattle. The 49ers and Seahawks split their regular season meetings, with Kittle catching a touchdown pass in a 17-13 victory at Seattle in Week 1.
Without No. 85 in the lineup for most of Sunday’s win at Philadelphia, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said his players did what they’ve been doing all season.
“They’ve been resilient all year. They’ve overcome a lot,” Shanahan said. “They believe so much in each other. We knew we couldn’t come here and win just by having certain guys play. We knew we had to come here and win as a complete team. I really believe we played as a complete team today and that’s why we did it.”
Receivers Demarcus Robinson and Jauan Jennings contributed to the team effort. Robinson had his first 100-yard game since 2022 and Jennings, a high school quarterback, threw a touchdown pass to McCaffrey.
Brock Purdy, who missed eight games this season with a toe injury, overcame two interceptions to throw the game-winning touchdown to McCaffrey late in the fourth quarter.
Defensively, Garret Wallow had a team-high 11 tackles and Eric Kendricks added 10 tackles (two for losses) and broke up Philly’s final desperation pass. Wallow was claimed off waivers from Denver on December 8, while Kendricks debuted with the 49ers on December 22.
“Having two linebackers that weren’t on our team a month ago and those guys playing that whole game and at a high level was so impressive,” coach Kyle Shanahan said of Wallow and Kendricks.
Upcoming tight men Jake Tonges and Luke Farrell have big cleats to fill but won’t be alone as they attempt to ‘Win One for George’.
Kittle isn’t just going to sit around eating pizza from Little Caesars, after all. He’ll find a way to keep his heart and soul, even his faithful hands, in the game.
“When you lose a leader like that, you never really lose him because his presence is still in that locker room. His energy is still there,” McCaffrey said. “We pray for him, we love him and we will play for him until the end.”
