Six-time Pro Bowler George Kittle continues to be one of the NFL’s best all-around tight ends. The San Francisco 49ers star is one of the team’s most important players, and he’s one of the toughest players at his position.
Kittle recently appeared on “Bussin’ With The Boys” and spoke about retirement and what he might get into after football.
Could 49ers TE George Kittle Jump Into a WWE Ring After Retiring From Football?
Kittle was a fifth-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft and has spent his entire nine-year career with the 49ers. He made his first Pro Bowl in 2018 after posting 88 catches, 1,377 yards, and five touchdowns. Those reception and yardage totals still stand as career highs.
The following year, he was named first-team All-Pro after surpassing 1,000 yards for the second straight season. San Francisco made it to Super Bowl 54, but fell to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Kittle has been a reliable producer his entire career, but has also been one of the best blocking tight ends in the NFL. His toughness and attitude are evident on the field, which makes his retirement plan seem very realistic.
The two-time All-Pro sat down with retired NFL players Will Compton and Taylor Lewan on “Bussin’ With The Boys,” and he was asked how long he thinks he’ll continue to play.
“Literally until I don’t have fun anymore,” Kittle said. “Or if Claire looks at me and goes, ‘You look like s**t out there, you should retire.’ If I’m 35 and it hurts to put pants on in the morning, I’ll have a conversation with myself. But I’m feeling great right now.”
George Kittle was asked when does he plan on retiring:
“Literally until I don’t have fun anymore or until my wife Claire looks at me and goes ‘you kinda look like shit out there, you should retire’. I don’t know, I think if I get to 35 and it hurts to put pants on in the… pic.twitter.com/muFzBpHWBF
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) June 24, 2025
Lewan asked if he’s thought about life after football. Kittle responded, “I’m aware there’s potential opportunities and doors that could be open, so I’m just excited about that stuff.”
When asked what those opportunities were, Kittle said, “I would love to do WWE … I think there’s definitely opportunity within that world, and I would love nothing more than be a part of it.”
Kittle is a well-known WWE fan who’s been attending events since 2018. He’s appeared on multiple WWE shows throughout his career, including a memorable moment at WrestleMania 39 where he delivered a clothesline to The Miz to help Pat McAfee secure a victory. A move to the ring after football makes all the sense in the world.
Kittle is a huge fan of WWE superstar Penta and recently got in the ring to celebrate after a match in February 2025. The two developed a close friendship that began in 2018 when they met at WrestleMania 34 in New Orleans. Their bond has grown stronger over the years, with Kittle even using Penta’s “Cero Miedo” (Zero Fear) hand gesture as his first-down celebration.
Kittle Wouldn’t Be the First NFL Player To Transition to Pro Wrestling
NFL players make sense as professional wrestlers. They’re big, athletic, and tough, so it’s no surprise that Kittle could find a home in WWE after retiring from football. There’s a long history of football players transitioning to the ring, with notable names like Goldberg and Brock Lesnar headlining the list.
Goldberg played for the Atlanta Falcons before becoming one of the biggest names in professional wrestling in the late 1990s. Lesnar was a wrestler first, but returned to the ring after a brief stint with the Minnesota Vikings.
Other notable NFL names are Super Bowl champion Steve “Mongo” McMichael and John “Bradshaw” Layfield. Roman Reigns and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson also had brief pro football careers before moving to wrestling.
Kittle has expressed serious interest in pursuing WWE, but with one important caveat. He has stated that he would only pursue wrestling if he could dedicate proper time to training and preparation. “I would only do WWE if I bought a ring and practiced my a** off for a while,” he said, showing his respect for the craft.
The bottom line is that many former NFL players have paved the road for Kittle to land in WWE. The tight end doesn’t think it will happen any time soon, but don’t be surprised if Kittle performs at WrestleMania in the near future.