49ers' George Kittle reveals retirement timeline and post-NFL aspirations

At 31 years old, George Kittle remains one of the NFL's most dominant tight ends. The San Francisco 49ers star recently signed a four-year contract extension, keeping him with the team through the 2029 season. But what happens after that? Will Kittle continue to suit up on Sundays, or will retirement start to creep into the conversation?

Kittle recently joined the Bussin' With The Boys podcast and shared his honest thoughts on his future in football—and what might come next.

"Literally until I don't have fun anymore," Kittle said, per Tristi Rodriguez of NBC Sports Bay Area. "Or if [my wife] Claire looks at me and goes, 'You kinda look like s--t out there, you should retire'. I'll be like, 'All right.'

"I don't know, I think if I get to 35 and it hurts to put pants on in the morning, I think I'll be like, 'Ah, this isn't that much fun anymore,' and I'll have a conversation with myself. But I'm feeling great right now."

That's good news for the 49ers, who will need Kittle's leadership and elite production in 2025 as they look to bounce back from a disappointing 6-11 season. Despite the team's struggles, Kittle turned in another outstanding performance, recording his fourth career 1,000-yard season with 1,106 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.

Now entering his ninth NFL season, Kittle has amassed 538 receptions, 7,380 receiving yards, and 45 touchdowns, cementing his status as one of the best tight ends of his generation.

What comes after football?

When asked about life after the NFL, Kittle hinted at some exciting possibilities.

"I haven't daydreamed about it or anything like that, but I'm definitely aware that there are potential opportunities and doors that could be open," Kittle said. "So I'm just excited about that stuff. I would love to do WWE. I think there's definitely opportunity within that world, and I would love nothing more than to be a part of it.

"My only question mark with that is I so much love being a fan of WWE. I would only do WWE if I bought a ring and practiced my ass off for a long time so I wouldn't look like an idiot out there. I've been in a WWE ring like three times. I don't know what I'm doing out there. I have an understanding of how it works, but I haven't moonsaulted off the top rope at WrestleMania like Pat McAfee did."

Until then, NFL fans can rest easy—George Kittle isn't going anywhere just yet. With his trademark energy, physicality, and passion for the game, he'll continue to be a cornerstone of the 49ers' offense for a while longer.