2018 has, without a doubt, been George Kittle’s year. Coming into the season, Kittle was seen as a nice piece of the San Francisco 49ers’ offense and as 2018 winds down, he’s an elite tight end and a nasty weapon. He’s already been shattering records, but he’s closing in on one more 49ers team record: most receptions by a tight end in a season.
The record sits at 82 and with his seven catches against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Kittle is at 79. Four more receptions in the 49ers 2018 finale will give him one more record to his name.
Against the Denver Broncos in Week 14, Kittle set 49ers team records for most receiving yards in a single game, and most receiving yards in a season by a tight end. He nearly broke Shannon Sharpe’s NFL record of yards by a tight end in a single game, but came five yards short.
Kittle also is in the hunt for another record: Most reception yards in a single season by a tight end. New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski has the record with 1,327 yards (set in 2011). In front of Kittle is Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce who has 1,274 yards (54 yards away). Kittle’s 1,228 yards puts him 99 yards away.
It won’t be surprising to see Kelce shatter Gronkowski’s record in Week 17 considering the offense he plays in. It would be very interesting to see both Gronk and Kittle shatter the record to close out their seasons, but given that Kittle is playing the Los Angeles Rams, it’s going to be an uphill climb to catch up to Kelce, let alone get the 99 yards to beat the original record.