Tight end George Kittle tiptoed on the back line of the end zone for a touchdown just before halftime and threw a key block for Elijah Mitchell’s third-quarter score. But his grandmother, Lucky, stole the show Sunday at Levi’s Stadium.
The 49ers celebrated her 100th birthday, which came Friday, during their 38-13 win over the Cardinals.
George greeted Lucky on the sideline before the game with a hug and posed with his extended family for a photo.
George Kittle hugs his grandma before the game. She turned 100 years old on Jan. 6 ❤️ pic.twitter.com/R2g8zn8uJj
— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) January 8, 2023
Kittle’s tight end compatriots, Tyler Kroft and Charlie Woerner, also took a picture with their teammate’s grandmother before the game, perhaps in a signal of the 49ers’ family-forward mentality.
After getting into his uniform, Kittle came back for one more sideline hug and a message from his grandmother and a few final embraces with other family members before taking the field.
George Kittle checking in with his grandma and fam one last time before the game 🥰 pic.twitter.com/RPDfO7noB6
— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) January 8, 2023
At halftime, the Levi’s Stadium crowd sang “Happy Birthday” to the centenarian Kittle, who had moved from the sideline to her seat along with plenty more Kittle family members.
The whole stadium joined in on a Happy Birthday song to George Kittle’s Grandma, Lucky! Happy 100th Birthday 🥳 #49ers #FTTB #GoNiners pic.twitter.com/IKcs1uHwrT
— Alex Tran (@nineralex) January 8, 2023
Kittle the player scored that late second-quarter touchdown from four yards out to extend the Niners’ lead to 21-13, then Mitchell’s rushing score made it 28-13. Kittle tacked on a second touchdown catch — this time a 1-yarder — late in the third quarter to make it 38-13 and all but seal a top-two NFC seed for the 49ers.
“That was awesome, are you kidding me?” George Kittle said of his grandmother’s day. “First NFL game for my grandma, 100 years old on Friday, the stadium sings ‘Happy Birthday’ to her, so shoutout to Levi’s Stadium. The Faithful are fantastic.”
The tight end has a career-high 11 touchdowns this season, including an amazing seven over the last four games as his chemistry with rookie Brock Purdy has flourished.
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