San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle’s season ended in one of the most nightmarish ways possible, tearing his Achilles in the middle of a playoff run.
The 49ers’ season ended a week later in Seattle, a harsh reminder of the stiff competition in the NFC West and the ticking clock of a competitive window. Fortunately for the San Francisco faithful and players alike, the legal tampering period has allowed for good news to lift spirits after a stagnant season.
George Kittle Reacts to 49ers’ Mike Evans Signing
The 49ers made one of free agency’s biggest splashes on Monday, signing former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans.
According to Adam Schefter, the deal is worth up to $60.4 million over three years. Count Kittle among those happy with the move.
He took to social media to express his excitement, posting “Let’s goooo @MikeEvans13_ welcome to the BAY!!!!”
Let’s goooo @MikeEvans13_ welcome to the BAY!!!! https://t.co/DWKesMEddd
— George Kittle (@gkittle46) March 9, 2026
A three-year contract after the first down season isn’t a total surprise, although it is a referendum on how the league views his potential decline. In San Francisco, he’ll be expected to take over as the team’s top receiving option.
That bodes particularly well for his Hall of Fame case, given head coach Kyle Shanahan’s history of feeding star receivers.
Evans’ role takes on more importance given Kittle’s recovery and the absence of receiver Brandon Aiyuk. The team lacked a true standout receiver in 2025, funneling extra touches to running back Christian McCaffrey and away from an oft-injured receiving corps.
If healthy, Evans could inject the unit with downfield potency and red-zone prowess.
Still, that’s no guarantee. Evans’ season was defined by injuries to his hamstring and collarbone. It was the first time in his 12-year career that he fell below the illustrious 1,000-yard mark. While that’s partly a result of his volume, Evans’ game took a step back, too, ranking 65th out of 112 qualifiers in PFSN’s NFL WR Impact Metric.
San Francisco is banking on a bounce back, and there’s reason to believe that a cleaner bill of health, better quarterback play, and the league’s preeminent play-caller bode well for that resurgence.
Kittle also responded to a post asking fans how they felt about the move on a scale of 1-10. “13,” he replied.
There is likely more in the tank than Evans’ 368-yard, three-score season would suggest. If he’s an upgrade over last year’s receiving corps, the 49ers will be pleased. If he can rekindle the dominance of his prime, San Francisco might separate itself from the titans atop the NFC West.
Both for the 49ers’ future and Evans’ case for Canton, this signing could prove pivotal. Whatever it might mean for Kittle’s 2026 production, it’s clear he’s happy to have the Buccaneers legend on board.
