Travis Kelce names George Kittle best tight end in NFL

George Kittle – 49ers Surviving Past The Packers

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce praised fellow tight end George Kittle, saying that the San Francisco 49ers player is the best in the NFL during a press conference on Friday.

“The king of ‘Tight End U,’ man. He’s the best tight end in the league, and deservingly so this year,” Kelce said.

“He’s been playing lights out, playing the best football of his career and really catapulting that San Fran team through the playoffs, man.”

Kelce and Kittle will meet in Super Bowl LVIII on February 11, 2024, at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada. It is a rematch of Super Bowl LIV, featuring the Niners as the NFC champion versus the Chiefs as the AFC champion — who currently are the reigning Super Bowl victors.

In their past showdown, which Kelce and the Chiefs won, 31–20. Looking forward to the next game, Kelce expressed the honor he felt going up against Kittle in another Super Bowl.

“And I couldn’t be more proud of him and couldn’t be more honored to go up against George in another Super Bowl,” Kelce said.

Loyal players to their clubs

Kelce and Kittle share the same milestones, having played for only one team since their draft day.

Kelce, drafted by the Chiefs in the 2013 NFL draft, achieved two times as Super Bowl champion, four times First-team All-Pro, three times Second-team All-Pro (2017, 2019, 2021) and nine times Pro Bowl.

Kittle, selected in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL draft by the Niners, holds the record of two times First-team All-Pro, two times Second-team All-Pro and five times Pro Bowl.

This season, Kittle led all NFL TEs in receiving yards with 1,020 yards in 16 games. He made 65 receptions on 90 targets, averaging 15.7 yards per catch. With an average of 63.8 receiving yards per game, he scored six receiving touchdowns.

Kelce trails behind Kittle as the second-best TE in receiving yards, playing 15 games with the Chiefs. He amassed 984 receiving yards with 93 receptions on 121 targets, averaging 10.6 yards per reception. He averaged 65.6 receiving yards per game and scored five receiving touchdowns.