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Rob Gronkowski says something about George Kittle that 49ers fans have quietly known to be true for a long time

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Wendell Ferreira | Last updated Jun 26, 2025 12:24 PM ET

The tight end position is a special one in the NFL. You have to run routes, catch passes, pass block, run block. George Kittle does all of those at an extremely high level, and that's what makes him a special player in the NFL. After years of fan debates arguing about who's better between Kittle and Travis Kelce, you could say that Kelce was a better receiver. But now, Kittle is still playing at the highest level, while Kelce is starting to regress.

Rob Gronkowski, who knows a thing or two about the position and was also a complete tight end throughout his amazing career, revealed how great he thinks Kittle is.

"All right, this is easy," Gronk said on 'Hot Ones Versus' when asked about who's the best tight end in football right now. "I'm going to answer totally: George Kittle by far. He was All-Pro last year. He had over 1,000 yards, he had over 10 touchdowns. He's the best in the game right now. So that's an easy number one."

Even though there are some rising tight ends, like Las Vegas Raiders' Brock Bowers and Arizona Cardinals' Trey McBride, Kittle still deserves high praise.

The 49ers' star has been an All-Pro player in each of the last three seasons. Throughout his career, Kittle has been a First-Team All-Pro twice (2019 and 2023) and a Second-Team All-Pro three times (2018, 2022, and 2024). He is also a six-time Pro Bowler.

In 2024, George Kittle finished the season with 78 catches, 1,106 receiving yards, and eight touchdown receptions. Originally, he was a fifth-round pick in 2017 out of Iowa. Earlier this offseason, the 49ers awarded Kittle with a four-year, $76.4 million extension ($19.1 million on yearly average), making him the highest-paid tight end in NFL history.

Rob Gronkowski also had an amazingly decorated career in the NFL. Five years older than Kittle, Gronk was a second-round pick in 2010 and played nine seasons for the New England Patriots and two more for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, always with Tom Brady as his quarterback. The future Hall of Famer won four Super Bowls and was named a First-Team All-Pro four times and a Pro Bowler five times. Gronk made the 2010s All-Decade Team alongside Travis Kelce.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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