Claire Kittle Shares Emotional Response to George Kittle’s Injury
Claire Kittle opened up about the shocking experience following her husband George’s Achilles tendon injury, capturing the moment’s despair in an emotional Instagram post. “As I kept shouting ‘Get up, get up,’ all I felt was disbelief and silence,” she reflected. “He wakes up all the time. He’s George. He can do anything. He just does it. It hurts. There’s no preparation for that.”
Her love for him shone through, stating, “I love this man with everything in me. He is a unicorn of this world and will come back stronger and better than ever.”
George Kittle, a key tight end for the Niners, suffered the injury during the first half of their tight 23-19 wild-card victory over the Eagles in Philadelphia. Following the injury, Claire and 49ers owner Jed York made their way to the locker room.
York offered support, and when he asked if George needed anything, the injured player requested a bottle of tequila, which was promptly provided, reportedly a bottle of Patrón.
Kittle, who has been with the Niners since 2017, broke his silence the next day. “Soccer sucks sometimes,” he wrote on Instagram. “But I love you. I love these guys and this team. I’m heartbroken, but I’m feeling so much love and support from everyone who reached out. I’m going to be fine. Thank you. It’s not over yet! And when the team owner first meets you in the locker room, you know you’re in a special place.”
Looking ahead to the divisional round against Seattle, Kittle and his teammates are focused on competing for a Super Bowl berth next month at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.
Claire added, “A heartbroken athlete has a hard heart. He doesn’t understand, like the whole team. I’m so proud of these guys and the collective spirit they have to fight every week. This is a special year. You can feel it, but we’re not done yet.” She finished with an affectionate note: “Love you G and thank you for carrying some of this pain for us.”
The couple got married in 2019. The 49ers, who faced the Chiefs in the 2024 Super Bowl, are set to play against the top-seeded Seahawks on Saturday at 8 p.m.
