{"id":138884,"date":"2026-01-13T07:56:17","date_gmt":"2026-01-13T07:56:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=138884"},"modified":"2026-01-13T07:56:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T07:56:17","slug":"%f0%9f%9a%a8-nfl-emotional-update-49ers-george-kittle-says-football-sucks-sometimes-after-season-ending-achilles-injury-during-playoff-win-the-star-tight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=138884","title":{"rendered":"\ud83d\udea8 NFL EMOTIONAL UPDATE: 49ers\u2019 George Kittle Says \u2018Football Sucks Sometimes\u2019 After Season\u2011Ending Achilles Injury During Playoff Win \u2014 The Star Tight End Opened Up on Instagram About His Heartbreak and Love for the Game After Being Ruled Out Following a Torn Achilles Against the Eagles. Fans and Teammates Are Rallying Around Him as San Francisco Prepares for the Next Round! \ud83d\udc47"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"136\">\ud83d\udea8 GEORGE KITTLE OPENS UP ABOUT TOUGH INJURY: 49ers Star Heartbroken After Tearing Achilles in Playoff Win But Vows to Keep Fighting! \ud83d\udc47<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"136\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com\/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTzhN8sLcizge19nhfsWJSzi_UQvSKxaEad4g&amp;s\" alt=\"George Kittle Says 'Football Sucks Sometimes' 1 Day After He Tore His  Achilles\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"138\" data-end=\"546\">In a candid Instagram post, George Kittle, the San Francisco 49ers\u2019 heart and soul, shared his thoughts after a heartbreaking injury during his team&#8217;s Wild Card playoff victory against the Philadelphia Eagles on January 11. The 32-year-old tight end was carted off the field in the second quarter after tearing his Achilles tendon while catching a six-yard pass, sidelining him for the remainder of the game.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"548\" data-end=\"870\">\u201cFootball sucks sometimes. But I love it,&#8221; Kittle began, a sentiment many athletes can relate to when faced with the brutal realities of the sport. The injury, which will keep him out for the rest of the season, was a tough blow for the 49ers, but Kittle\u2019s positive outlook and love for the game were evident in his words.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"872\" data-end=\"1165\">\u201cI love these guys and this team. Heartbroken but have felt so much love and support from everyone reaching out,\u201d he continued. &#8220;I\u2019ll be good. Thank you. We aren\u2019t done yet!&#8221; Kittle\u2019s words showcased his determination to stay strong for his teammates, even as he faces a long road to recovery.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"1167\" data-end=\"1233\">Kittle\u2019s Support System: Family and Teammates Rally Around Him<\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"1235\" data-end=\"1483\">Kittle\u2019s wife, Claire, also shared a heartfelt message, showing her unwavering support for her husband. On her Instagram Stories, she called him her &#8220;real life superhero \ud83d\udc4a\ud83d\udcaa\ud83d\ude24\u26a1\ufe0f&#8221; as a sign of admiration for his strength, both on and off the field.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1485\" data-end=\"1940\">The 49ers\u2019 owner, Jed York, was the first to meet Kittle in the locker room after the injury, further reinforcing Kittle\u2019s belief that he is part of something special with the team. The support from the organization, as well as his teammates, was evident throughout the post-game reactions. Eddy Pi\u00f1eiro, a teammate, shared his support, writing, \u201cLove you bro \ud83d\ude4c,\u201d while Demarcus Robinson added, \u201cAll Love Family We Need That Energy Brothers Keeper \u2764\ufe0f\ud83d\udcaf.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1942\" data-end=\"2461\">Christian McCaffrey, the team\u2019s running back, also expressed how hard it is to lose a leader like Kittle. &#8220;This team has carried the character of George Kittle throughout the entire year&#8230; he&#8217;s the heart and soul of this team,&#8221; McCaffrey said during the post-game press conference. \u201cWhen you lose a leader like that, you never really lose him because his presence is still in the locker room&#8230; He\u2019s a leader, heart and soul of this team. So praying for him, love him, we\u2019re going to play for him the rest of the way.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1942\" data-end=\"2461\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,w_3971,h_2233,x_0,y_284\/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images\/ImagnImages\/mmsport\/si\/01keta4qpvdrnhgt4x9n.jpg\" alt=\"George Kittle Penned Sad Message After Tearing Achilles in 49ers' Win Over  Eagles\" \/><\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"2463\" data-end=\"2522\">Kittle\u2019s Resilience: A True Leader on and off the Field<\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"2524\" data-end=\"2962\">Kittle\u2019s injury came after a pivotal catch during the second quarter of the Wild Card game, which was set to push the 49ers closer to halftime. But with around six minutes left before the break, the torn Achilles tendon was confirmed, ruling him out for the remainder of the game. Despite the devastating injury, Kittle\u2019s message remained hopeful as he reassured fans and teammates alike that he would remain a part of the team\u2019s journey.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2964\" data-end=\"3388\">His Instagram post concluded with a lighthearted touch\u2014a Calvin and Hobbes comic strip\u2014featuring Calvin saying, &#8220;You know, Hobbes, some days my lucky rocketship underpants don\u2019t help.&#8221; Hobbes\u2019 response, &#8220;Well, you\u2019ve done all you can do,&#8221; seemed to reflect Kittle\u2019s mindset as he faces the uncertain road ahead. It was a reminder that even in the face of adversity, Kittle remains grounded and focused on the bigger picture.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"3390\" data-end=\"3444\">The 49ers\u2019 Playoff Push: Kittle\u2019s Legacy Continues<\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"3446\" data-end=\"3821\">Despite Kittle\u2019s injury, the 49ers remain a strong contender in the NFC playoffs. Their upcoming divisional round game against the Seattle Seahawks on January 17 will be an important step in their pursuit of a Super Bowl. While Kittle won\u2019t be on the field with them, his leadership and presence in the locker room will continue to inspire his teammates as they push forward.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3823\" data-end=\"4180\">Kittle\u2019s heart and soul have been central to the 49ers&#8217; success over the years, and even though his injury will keep him sidelined, his impact will be felt every step of the way. As McCaffrey said, \u201cWe\u2019re going to play for him the rest of the way,\u201d proving that Kittle\u2019s spirit will continue to fuel the team\u2019s drive as they look to make a deep playoff run.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\ud83d\udea8 GEORGE KITTLE OPENS UP ABOUT TOUGH INJURY: 49ers Star Heartbroken After Tearing Achilles in Playoff Win But Vows to Keep Fighting! \ud83d\udc47 In a candid Instagram&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":138893,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-138884","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>\ud83d\udea8 NFL EMOTIONAL UPDATE: 49ers\u2019 George Kittle Says \u2018Football Sucks Sometimes\u2019 After Season\u2011Ending Achilles Injury During Playoff Win \u2014 The Star Tight End Opened Up on Instagram About His Heartbreak and Love for the Game After Being Ruled Out Following a Torn Achilles Against the Eagles. Fans and Teammates Are Rallying Around Him as San Francisco Prepares for the Next Round! \ud83d\udc47 - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=138884\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\ud83d\udea8 NFL EMOTIONAL UPDATE: 49ers\u2019 George Kittle Says \u2018Football Sucks Sometimes\u2019 After Season\u2011Ending Achilles Injury During Playoff Win \u2014 The Star Tight End Opened Up on Instagram About His Heartbreak and Love for the Game After Being Ruled Out Following a Torn Achilles Against the Eagles. Fans and Teammates Are Rallying Around Him as San Francisco Prepares for the Next Round! \ud83d\udc47 - NEWS USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"\ud83d\udea8 GEORGE KITTLE OPENS UP ABOUT TOUGH INJURY: 49ers Star Heartbroken After Tearing Achilles in Playoff Win But Vows to Keep Fighting! \ud83d\udc47 In a candid Instagram...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=138884\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"NEWS USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-01-13T07:56:17+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/610867675_18403946575132461_7532.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"512\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"640\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"MrThanh\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"MrThanh\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=138884\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=138884\",\"name\":\"\ud83d\udea8 NFL EMOTIONAL UPDATE: 49ers\u2019 George Kittle Says \u2018Football Sucks Sometimes\u2019 After Season\u2011Ending Achilles Injury During Playoff Win \u2014 The Star Tight End Opened Up on Instagram About His Heartbreak and Love for the Game After Being Ruled Out Following a Torn Achilles Against the Eagles. Fans and Teammates Are Rallying Around Him as San Francisco Prepares for the Next Round! \ud83d\udc47 - NEWS USA\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=138884#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=138884#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/610867675_18403946575132461_7532.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-13T07:56:17+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-13T07:56:17+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/850fd1b8bcb1d322b7f0a04b3d2f18ec\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=138884#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=138884\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=138884#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/610867675_18403946575132461_7532.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/610867675_18403946575132461_7532.jpg\",\"width\":512,\"height\":640},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=138884#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"\ud83d\udea8 NFL EMOTIONAL UPDATE: 49ers\u2019 George Kittle Says \u2018Football Sucks Sometimes\u2019 After Season\u2011Ending Achilles Injury During Playoff Win \u2014 The Star Tight End Opened Up on Instagram About His Heartbreak and Love for the Game After Being Ruled Out Following a Torn Achilles Against the Eagles. Fans and Teammates Are Rallying Around Him as San Francisco Prepares for the Next Round! \ud83d\udc47\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/\",\"name\":\"NEWS USA\",\"description\":\"Your Daily Dose of Sports News and Updates\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/850fd1b8bcb1d322b7f0a04b3d2f18ec\",\"name\":\"MrThanh\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8c8f2d90ff2a21a61a5e6bc0619622a5021fc65353885d9d7b3db1c8c7c1ca8d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8c8f2d90ff2a21a61a5e6bc0619622a5021fc65353885d9d7b3db1c8c7c1ca8d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"MrThanh\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?author=6\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"\ud83d\udea8 NFL EMOTIONAL UPDATE: 49ers\u2019 George Kittle Says \u2018Football Sucks Sometimes\u2019 After Season\u2011Ending Achilles Injury During Playoff Win \u2014 The Star Tight End Opened Up on Instagram About His Heartbreak and Love for the Game After Being Ruled Out Following a Torn Achilles Against the Eagles. Fans and Teammates Are Rallying Around Him as San Francisco Prepares for the Next Round! \ud83d\udc47 - NEWS USA","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=138884","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"\ud83d\udea8 NFL EMOTIONAL UPDATE: 49ers\u2019 George Kittle Says \u2018Football Sucks Sometimes\u2019 After Season\u2011Ending Achilles Injury During Playoff Win \u2014 The Star Tight End Opened Up on Instagram About His Heartbreak and Love for the Game After Being Ruled Out Following a Torn Achilles Against the Eagles. Fans and Teammates Are Rallying Around Him as San Francisco Prepares for the Next Round! \ud83d\udc47 - NEWS USA","og_description":"\ud83d\udea8 GEORGE KITTLE OPENS UP ABOUT TOUGH INJURY: 49ers Star Heartbroken After Tearing Achilles in Playoff Win But Vows to Keep Fighting! \ud83d\udc47 In a candid Instagram...","og_url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=138884","og_site_name":"NEWS USA","article_published_time":"2026-01-13T07:56:17+00:00","og_image":[{"width":512,"height":640,"url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/610867675_18403946575132461_7532.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"MrThanh","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"MrThanh","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=138884","url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=138884","name":"\ud83d\udea8 NFL EMOTIONAL UPDATE: 49ers\u2019 George Kittle Says \u2018Football Sucks Sometimes\u2019 After Season\u2011Ending Achilles Injury During Playoff Win \u2014 The Star Tight End Opened Up on Instagram About His Heartbreak and Love for the Game After Being Ruled Out Following a Torn Achilles Against the Eagles. Fans and Teammates Are Rallying Around Him as San Francisco Prepares for the Next Round! \ud83d\udc47 - NEWS USA","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=138884#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=138884#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/610867675_18403946575132461_7532.jpg","datePublished":"2026-01-13T07:56:17+00:00","dateModified":"2026-01-13T07:56:17+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/850fd1b8bcb1d322b7f0a04b3d2f18ec"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=138884#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=138884"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=138884#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/610867675_18403946575132461_7532.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/610867675_18403946575132461_7532.jpg","width":512,"height":640},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=138884#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"\ud83d\udea8 NFL EMOTIONAL UPDATE: 49ers\u2019 George Kittle Says \u2018Football Sucks Sometimes\u2019 After Season\u2011Ending Achilles Injury During Playoff Win \u2014 The Star Tight End Opened Up on Instagram About His Heartbreak and Love for the Game After Being Ruled Out Following a Torn Achilles Against the Eagles. Fans and Teammates Are Rallying Around Him as San Francisco Prepares for the Next Round! \ud83d\udc47"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/","name":"NEWS USA","description":"Your Daily Dose of Sports News and Updates","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/850fd1b8bcb1d322b7f0a04b3d2f18ec","name":"MrThanh","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8c8f2d90ff2a21a61a5e6bc0619622a5021fc65353885d9d7b3db1c8c7c1ca8d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8c8f2d90ff2a21a61a5e6bc0619622a5021fc65353885d9d7b3db1c8c7c1ca8d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"MrThanh"},"url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?author=6"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138884","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=138884"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138884\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":138895,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138884\/revisions\/138895"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/138893"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=138884"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=138884"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=138884"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}