49ers starting offensive lineman predicts that he'll make the Pro Bowl in 2025
McKivitz, 28, was San Francisco's fifth-round pick (No. 153 overall) in the 2020 NFL draft after a five-year collegiate career at West Virginia, where he earned All-Big 12 and All-American honors as a senior.
After he spent most of his rookie season as a backup and most of the following year on the practice squad, McKivitz eventually took over as the team's starting right tackle in 2023 and has started all 34 games over the last two seasons.
As he prepares to enter his third season in the role, McKivitz believes he'll be recognized as one of the top players at his position in the NFL in 2025.
'I'm going to be a Pro Bowler this year, I've told countless people," McKivitz shared with NBC Sports' Matt Maiocco earlier this week. "I'm just putting it out there just because that's going to hold me accountable and get me to where I want to go. If you don't fight for it, you won't get it.'
The 49ers are no strangers to having one of their starting tackles make the Pro Bowl, as left tackle Trent Williams made it four straight seasons from 2020-23. However, McKivitz will really have to play great in 2025 to unseat Philadelphia's Lane Johnson, who's made the Pro Bowl each of the last three seasons and has made six in his career.
Interestingly, the San Francisco Chronicle's Noah Furtado reported that McKivitiz had the "most impressive offensive/defensive lineman one-on-one rep of the day" on Friday, as he completely shut down a pass rush from Nick Bosa. Maybe that'll be something for him to build on going forward and turn the 2025 season into a Pro Bowl campaign.
More 49ers: 49ers undersized rookie 'doing a hell of a job' in battle for starting spot
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