George Kittle: 49ers have "lofty expectations" for 2025
They still expect to contend.
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"I would say we have pretty lofty expectations," 49ers tight end George Kittle told CBS Sports, via David Bonilla of 49erswebzone.com. "We always do. We understand that we lost some really key players. I'm aware of that. [Safety Talanoa] Hufanga, [linebacker] Dre Greenlaw, [defensive tackle Javon] Hargrave, [cornerback] Charvarius WArd, one of my favorite teammates I've had, [wide receiver] Deebo [Samuel], one of my favorite teammates, [offensive guard] Aaron Banks went to Green Bay.
"We lost some guys, and that is obvious. We're aware of that. But I feel like, in the way we signed guys in free agency, the way that we drafted, we targeted those holes that we lost. I'm not going to say we're going to replace All-Pro players, Pro Bowl players immediately, but I think we drafted really, really well."
Kittle pointed to the fact that nearly every player participated in the voluntary offseason program as the 49ers try to bounce back after last season's 6-11 finish.
"I think what our goal is—is our offense needs to play at a really high level," Kittle said. "We brought back basically everybody [on offense], which is pretty fun. And when you have [running back] Christian McCaffrey, [quarterback] Brock Purdy, [left tackle] Trent Williams, it makes me pretty excited to play football; I will say that. You can throw me in there, too, with [fullback] Kyle Juszczyk. We're decent as well."
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USA Today
21 minutes ago
- USA Today
Everything Texans Pro Bowl QB C.J. Stroud said before the trip to The Greenbrier
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So, it's not always easy going against them and they're really good. So, it's bumps and bruises, but I feel like we're making progress.' Q: On what he's seen from WR Christian Kirk as a piece of this offense Stroud: 'Christian's always been great. I've been a fan of his since college. He's been somebody who's put it on tape a bunch and been one of the best receivers in the league for a minute now. So, I think our chemistry is being seen every day. We've not just been close on the field, but off as well. Just having conversations on how we look at schemes and routes and whatnot. I think he's going to be great. He's been that way so far in camp.' Q: On how TE Cade Stover's farm boy attitude manifests itself on and off the field Stroud: 'He's a tough guy. He's just Ohio tough that when I moved to Ohio to go to school, they always talked about being tough and being developed. That's just how guys from Ohio State come out. We're all mentally, physically tough and we're trying to show that we're that way. I think it comes off naturally for him. Just his background with farming and whatnot. So, he's done incredible things, but he's taken another step with route running, pass catching and I think that's somewhere where he wanted to take his game up a notch and he has.' Q:On how challenging it's been to learn a new offense while continuing to be a leader for new players on the team Stroud: 'Just challenges every year. I don't really look at it as a challenge, more like opportunity to learn something new about the game of football and also take the opportunity to help other guys. I don't really look at it as a challenge, I don't really look at it as challenging. It's something that you…When you're playing football, you get used to learning new schemes and learning new people. So, it's been fun. I don't know, as a quarterback, I feel like I'm just starting to feel comfortable, trying to get better every day. 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I think I'm good on throwing to guys at outside and inside. I don't really have a preference, so to speak. But we've had great guys in the slot with 'Stef' [Stefon Diggs] and Tank [Dell], 'Metch' [John Metchie III]. Now we've got C. Kirk [Christian Kirk], 'J-Wat' [Justin Watson]. I think our guys are very versatile too. So, I've been trying to get better in both.' Q: On if the offensive line is having good moments at Training Camp 'Yeah, it takes time. Especially the first couple of days, no pads. It's not always easy. I think that's the best defensive line in football right now, with just how they get off the ball, to edge guys Will [Anderson Jr.] and Danielle [Hunter] are crazy athletes. They rush together, they rush as a unit. I think it's just making us nothing but better. I think you don't want to continue to just say the defense is good. You want to start seeing progress and seeing plays being made. I think we've seen that these last couple of days. So, it's helpful for me to start going through reads and be able to go through my full progression when the offensive line is picking everything up. They've done a great job of continuing to work and keeping their head up, staying confident because it's not easy going against those guys every day, I get that. But we have trust that those guys, our guys are very talented too on the offensive side of the ball.' Q: On how the physical improvements he made in the offseason are manifesting themselves Stroud: "I feel good, I feel fast, I feel strong, I feel healthy. I don't know if I look chubby or look fat, but I feel good. I don't know. I feel good though. I'm running fast.' Q: On if he feels his self-criticism is a blessing or something to be worked on Stroud: 'It could be both. It could be something that your body, my body language isn't always great. I think I'm just… I love winning. It's hard when you're not doing what you want to do or things around you aren't great. It's easy to be negative. So, my thing is I have to try to be more positive in my body language and things like that. But, I've learned this over my years too. This is a little nugget that I got from a pastor was, 'Mistakes and failures or even successes can either be a classroom or a coffin.' So, I can either let it train me and I can learn from it or I can let it kill me and I can get in a coffin with it and let that mistake take a course in a negative route. For me, I try to make it a classroom as much as possible to where I can learn from it, analyze it, study it and then move on. I think that's something that I'm trying to get better at.' Q: On how he's seen S C.J. Gardner-Johnson affecting the team Stroud: 'He's a different cat. He's a great guy. He wants to be a locker room guy. He is a locker room guy. Very friendly, very cool. Me and him mesh well. His first day, I called him. Well, I texted him and welcomed him on the team and was just excited to have him. 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So, I think that not only did it help them, but it helped me a ton. We just want to… Houston's opened up arms to us as a home and we want to be able to give back. We do the same thing in California too. So, it was a blessing.'
NBC News
21 minutes ago
- NBC News
Sterling Sharpe joins brother Shannon as only siblings in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
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Boston Globe
21 minutes ago
- Boston Globe
Sterling Sharpe gives fellow Pro Football Hall of Fame brother Shannon his gold jacket
Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'The second thing is, the last time I was here, you said that you were the only pro football player in the Hall of Fame that could say that you were the second-best player in your own family. I agree with that statement, but it would be an extreme privilege. ... for you to be the only player in the Pro Football Hall of Fame with two gold jackets. You see, you have to learn to follow before you can lead.' Advertisement Eric Allen, Jared Allen, and Antonio Gates joined Sterling Sharpe as the Class of 2025 was inducted into football immortality during a ceremony at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, where the Los Angeles Chargers beat the Detroit Lions 34-7 on Thursday night to kick off the NFL preseason. Advertisement Sterling Sharpe averaged 85 catches and 1,162 yards, finishing with 65 touchdowns in seven seasons with the Green Bay Packers. The wide receiver was named to five Pro Bowls and earned first-team All-Pro honors three times. A neck injury cut his career short and he waited a long time to get the call from the Hall. Shannon Sharpe, who played tight end for the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens, was inducted in 2011. They are the first brothers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Jared Allen was the first player among the new class to take the stage after Hall of Fame running back Thurman Thomas led the crowd in singing 'Happy Birthday' to former Bills coach Marv Levy, who turns 100 on Sunday. Wearing his trademark cowboy hat, Allen talked about his motivation for success. 'Why is what makes you different; it's your long game,' he said. 'It's the motivation that drives you to do all necessary action steps to achieve your goal. My why can be summed up in three things: fear, respect and the pursuit of greatness. ... I apply my why to everything in my life, to my walk with Christ, my marriage and being a father.' Jared Allen made five Pro Bowls, was a four-time All-Pro and had 136 sacks in 12 seasons with the Chiefs, Vikings, Bears and Panthers. His final game was Super Bowl 50, a loss by Carolina against Peyton Manning and the Broncos. Eric Allen, a six-time Pro Bowl cornerback who played for the Eagles, Saints and Raiders, was presented by one of his four sons. Allen, who had 54 career interceptions, including eight returned for touchdowns, gave the obligatory 'Fly! Eagles! Fly!' to support the Super Bowl champions who drafted him in 1988. Advertisement 'I grew up in Philadelphia. I became a man there. I have a special gratitude for the organization,' Allen said. Allen also thanked current Raiders owner Mark Davis, who was in attendance. 'Al Davis had a statement: 'Commitment to excellence,' Allen said. 'It's all over our building in Las Vegas. We are trying to make sure we fulfill that destiny, we fulfill what Al Davis was about.' Gates closed out the day with a 23-minute speech that began with him saying he wouldn't cry but included several emotional moments. Gates, who was presented by Chargers owner Dean Spanos, never played a single down of college football yet ended up becoming the 23rd of 382 Hall of Famers who were undrafted by NFL teams. He thanked former Chargers tight ends coach Tim Brewster for discovering him after he led Kent State's basketball team to the Elite Eight. 'Tim Brewster saw something special in me. He was pretty sure that I could make the team. He was adamant that I'd be All-Pro in three years,' Gates said. 'You see, the thing is when switching sports or careers for that matter, it can be life-changing. The unexpected are often the most powerful ones because it can completely redirect your life if you're ready to take advantage and you're ready for the opportunity. Thank you to Coach Tim Brewster and Coach Marty Schottenheimer. They gave me an opportunity to play tight end in the NFL. Because of you, Coach Tim Brewster, NFL teams and NFL scouts will never look at college basketball players the same again.' Advertisement Gates played all 16 of his NFL seasons with the Chargers, finishing with 955 catches for 11,841 yards and 116 TDs. He made the Pro Bowl eight times and was All-Pro three times, the first in just his second season.
