Caitlin Clark Shares Classy Message For George Kittle After Season-Ending Injury

Originally posted on The Spun | By Chris Rosvoglou | Last updated Jan 12, 2026 9:03 PM ET

The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, but they lost All-Pro tight end George Kittle to a season-ending injury.

Kittle, who has over 8,000 career receiving yards and 52 touchdowns with the 49ers, suffered a torn right Achilles in the first half of action. It was a devastating blow to Kyle Shanahan's offense, and yet, his players found a way to knock off the defending Super Bowl champions in a hostile environment.

Despite suffering a serious injury in the postseason, Kittle is in good spirits. He made that abundantly clear on Monday night.

"Football sucks sometimes. But I love it," Kittle wrote on Instagram. "I love these guys and this team. Heartbroken but have felt so much love and support from everyone reaching out. I’ll be good. Thank you. We aren’t done yet! Also when your team owner is the first person to meet you in the locker room, you know you’re in a special place. Cheers, all my love."

Jan 11, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle before action against the Philadelphia Eagles in an NFC Wild Card Round game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images© Bill Streicher-Imagn Images.

Kittle was bombarded with heartfelt messages from his fans after posting this message on social media. He even received words of encouragement from Iowa legend and Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark.

"You’re gonna be back better than ever," Clark wrote on Instagram. "We are proud of you!"

View this post on Instagram

Playing for Kittle.

Although the 49ers won't have Kittle for the rest of their playoff run, Christian McCaffrey said the team will try its best to make him proud.

"This team has carried the character of George Kittle throughout the entire year," McCaffrey said. "He's the heart and soul of this team. That's a tough loss. When he's not playing, it means a lot. … When you lose a leader like that, you never really lose him because his presence is still in this locker room. His energy is still here."

The 49ers will face the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday in the NFC Divisional Round. They split the regular-season series, with the road team winning each matchup.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: