George Kittle opts out of ‘go Cardinals’ before ‘the whole new season’
The San Francisco 49ers saw a great opportunity slipped away in Week 18, falling 13-3 at home to the Seattle Seahawks in a game that decided both the NFC West title and the conference’s top seed. Seattle’s victory secured a bye in the first round and home field advantage, while San Francisco was forced into a much more difficult road for the playoffs which now starts on the road.
However, right after that, a veteran ending George Kittle he made it clear the 49ers are already shifting their mindset toward what’s next. Speaking after the loss at Levi’s Stadium, Kittle acknowledged the sting of losing to a division rival with so much at stake.
“Look, we lost at home to a division rival and the No. 1 seed, and it hurts,” Kittle said in a postgame press conference. “It is what it is, and yes, I’m very disappointed about it. It’s terrible.”
The frustration was understandable, especially considering how well Seattle’s defense controlled the game. At the same time, Kittle emphasized that the playoffs offer a reset.
“The good news is I’m going to play football next week, whether it’s Saturday, Sunday, Monday or whenever it is, I’ve got to play football again,” Kittle said. “And it’s going to be on the road in a hostile environment. Would I rather say goodbye and play at Levy Stadium? Yes, but that’s just not our reality. So, I fully expect our team to come in, attack it like it’s a whole new season ahead of us. It is what it is, we just have to go to work.”
His comments reflect a veteran’s perspective, recognizing that postseason football often rewards teams that can bounce back quickly from disappointments.
“We’ve got a week. Hopefully we’ll get Trent back. That’s a big help. He’s a really good footballer. Maybe Ricky,” he added. “It’s horrible, I hate to lose. I hate to lose to the Seahawks. But hey, we’re going to play football next week. And whoever it is, whenever it happens. Go Cardinals.”
on the field the Seahawks defense limited Brock Purdy for 127 passing yards, limited the running game to just 53 yards and recorded three sacks and an interception. Kittle, returning to the lineup, finished with five catches for 29 yards, emblematic of an offense that never found a rhythm.
Now, the 49ers will enter the Wild Card round as the 5th or 6th seed, depending on the result of the Los Angeles Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals game.
2026-01-04 08:06:00
