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49ers Announce George Kittle Award News on Thursday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paolo Songco | Last updated Jan 16, 2025 5:54 PM ET

The season may be over for George Kittle and the San Francisco 49ers, but the two-time All-Pro tight end is still being recognized for his achievements this past year.

This time around, however, it has little to do with what he's done on the field. Rather, Kittle is being honored for his actions outside of it.

On Thursday, the Niners announced that Kittle has been named as one of the three finalists for the annual NFL Salute to Service Award. The six-time Pro Bowler will contend with Aaron Jones of the Minnesota Vikings and Morgan Fox of the Los Angeles Chargers for the honor of being named this year's winner.

The Salute to Service Award is given to a player who goes above and beyond when it comes to honoring the military and the veteran community.

According to the 49ers' website, Kittle's connection to the award is "personal," with his uncle and grandfather among his relatives who have served. The former Iowa standout "hosts military and frontline heroes at every game, donating over 400 tickets in six years."

Kittle previously established a podcast to tell the stories of veterans and has also created an app that offers "free mental health resources to veterans." He's reportedly also donated over $250,000 to military nonprofits.

The winner of the Salute to Service Award will be announced on Feb. 6 at NFL Honors.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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