San Francisco, CA – June 15, 2025
The 49ers' tight end may be one of the NFL's most entertaining personalities, but when it comes to loyalty, George Kittle doesn’t joke around—especially when a teammate's name is being dragged through the mud. Over the weekend, Kittle fired back at critics after a viral clip from Washington Commanders’ minicamp ignited a fresh round of online slander targeting Deebo Samuel.
In the now-infamous video, a slowed-down Deebo route during a practice drill led some fans to label the former All-Pro wideout as “washed” or “slow,” triggering an avalanche of hot takes. But Kittle wasn’t having any of it. “Anyone calling Deebo ‘slow’ clearly doesn’t understand football or what minicamp actually is,” Kittle tweeted. “Deebo isn’t just fast—he’s explosive. Always has been.”
The tight end didn’t stop there. Speaking on his podcast, Kittle delivered a sharp rebuttal to what he called “social media scouting.” “You want to criticize a guy’s effort in a non-contact drill in June? That’s laughable. Watch him play in September. Then we’ll talk,” he said.
Kittle’s passionate defense echoes the locker room unity that has defined the 49ers’ culture under Kyle Shanahan. Deebo Samuel, a cornerstone of the 49ers' offense since 2019, has endured his fair share of doubters, but his versatility and power after the catch remain elite weapons in San Francisco’s system. Despite injuries last season, Samuel still posted 919 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns.
“Deebo’s built different,” Kittle added. “He plays hurt, blocks like a lineman, and makes defenders miss every time he touches the ball. If you don’t see that, maybe the problem isn’t Deebo—it’s your eyes.”
Fans were quick to rally behind Kittle’s words. “That’s why Kittle is the heart of this team,” one fan wrote on X. “He rides for his guys.” Another posted, “The internet can’t slow down Deebo. They tried last year too.”
With the 2025 season approaching and expectations sky-high, Kittle’s defense may be just the motivational spark the locker room needs. And if history is any indication, whenever Deebo’s doubted—he delivers.
So here’s the message: Doubt Deebo at your own risk. George Kittle is watching.
