“I wore the number 24 in high school my freshman, sophomore year because of him. I wore Kobe Bryant basketball shoes because of Kobe Bryant. Every time I laced up my basketball shoes, I felt like I had Kobe Bryant with me. I had a little part of him - I had his jumper, his fadeaway.”

American professional football tight end, born 1993

George Kittle is an American professional football tight end, known for playing for the San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League. Born in 1993, he came to prominence after a college career with the Iowa Hawkeyes and his selection by San Francisco in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL draft. He has become one of the league’s most recognized tight ends, with seven Pro Bowl selections and first-team All-Pro honors in 2019 and 2023. His public remarks often reflect the energy and directness associated with his role on the field, as well as the confidence that has marked his career.