George Kittle Guides Brock Purdy Through Contract Extension Maze

Brock Purdy, the San Francisco 49ers’ unexpectedly successful quarterback, is navigating the complex world of contract negotiations, seeking a long-term extension that reflects his value to the team. Fortunately for Purdy, he has a seasoned teammate in his corner: veteran tight end George Kittle. Kittle, who has twice negotiated significant contracts with the 49ers, is providing Purdy with advice and support during this pivotal time.

Kittle recently shared his insights with NBC Sports Bay Area, explaining his role as a sounding board for Purdy. He emphasized his intention to offer guidance without overstepping, acknowledging Purdy’s autonomy in making decisions about his future. "Just trying to help him out as best I can without ever trying to overstep," Kittle stated. "Because he’s an adult and he knows what he wants to do with his life, but if I can help with a little guidance here and there, I try my best."

Kittle’s own contract history provides him with valuable experience to share. He inked a lucrative extension with the 49ers during the 2025 NFL offseason, a deal that, at the time, made him the highest-paid tight end in the league, boasting an average annual value (AAV) of $19.1 million. While Kittle understands the intricacies of negotiating with the 49ers, he also recognizes the vast difference in scale between a tight end’s contract and a quarterback’s contract.

"The only difference is, a quarterback’s contract is significantly and astronomically different than a tight end’s contract," Kittle noted with a smile. He is focused on providing Purdy with realistic expectations and contextualizing his own experiences to be relevant to Purdy’s situation. "Just trying to be realistic with him and trying to connect it as best I can."

According to Kittle, their shared experiences of exceeding expectations have made their conversations particularly fruitful. "No one really had high expectations for either of us, and we both exceeded those expectations," Kittle explained. While Kittle’s rise to prominence was a gradual process, Purdy’s ascent was remarkably rapid. "I think he kind of took a rocket ship a little bit faster than I did, mine was over the course of several years. His was over the course of like six games."

Purdy’s contract situation is uniquely challenging. As the final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, he entered the league with low expectations and signed a modest four-year, rookie-scale deal worth just under $3.74 million. Despite his outstanding performance, Purdy has remained among the NFL’s lowest-paid starting quarterbacks.

Purdy has received performance-based pay throughout his career, and his final-year salary saw an increase to just under $5.35 million due to a "proven performance escalator," as reported by Spotrac.com. However, even with these adjustments, his earnings are dwarfed by the potential AAV of a long-term deal, which could be nearly ten times greater. This disparity underscores the extent to which Purdy is currently underpaid.

Given the significant financial opportunity at stake, some might expect Purdy to hold out or exert pressure on the 49ers to expedite negotiations. However, Purdy has taken a different approach, actively participating in the team’s offseason activities. Kittle believes this decision reflects Purdy’s commitment to the team and fosters goodwill within the locker room, especially after the departure of several key free agents during the offseason.

"I’m happy that we don’t have a bunch of guys holding out for contracts," Kittle said. "I’m glad that we are not having a super drama-filled offseason. I think every year of my career we’ve had a quarterback controversy at some point. And to not have that, it’s going great."

Kittle emphasized the positive impact of Purdy’s presence on team morale and chemistry. "And just when you have everybody in the building or the majority of the guys in the building, just the energy in the locker room is fantastic, the weight room is awesome, guys are working really hard. We have a lot of new free agents this year, so you want to meet everybody. You want everybody to get to know you before you get into the grind of training camp."

Purdy’s decision to prioritize team cohesion over individual leverage speaks volumes about his character and leadership. With Kittle’s guidance and Purdy’s commitment to the 49ers, the team is poised to navigate these contract negotiations smoothly and maintain a positive atmosphere as they prepare for the upcoming season. The combination of Kittle’s experience and Purdy’s maturity suggests that a mutually beneficial agreement is within reach, ensuring Purdy remains a cornerstone of the 49ers’ success for years to come. The 49ers will be looking to lock down their star quarterback and continue their Super Bowl window.