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San Francisco 49ers star tight end George Kittle’s season ended in devastating fashion Sunday during their NFC Wild Card victory over the Eagles when he suffered a torn Achilles tendon.
The injury occurred with about six minutes remaining in the second quarter. Kittle made a 6-yard catch in the right flat and attempted to turn upfield when his right leg suddenly gave out as Philadelphia linebacker Zack Baun completed the tackle. Medical staff immediately identified the injury as an Achilles tear. Adding to the heartbreak, the reception would be Kittle’s only catch of the game.
In a remarkable display of the tight end’s character, Kittle apparently requested – and received – a bottle of Patron tequila from team owner Jed York following the injury.
Here’s what I found out:
*It was Patron tequila
*The bottle was sent from the owner from his suite to Kittle after he requested it
*That bottle is now empty https://t.co/QZkdLAXXD3— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 12, 2026
The 49ers didn’t let their star tight end’s absence derail their playoff hopes.
Despite losing the seven-time Pro Bowler, San Francisco managed to defeat Philadelphia 23-19 on the road. The victory advances the 49ers to the NFC Divisional Round where they’ll face the top-seeded Seattle Seahawks.
Kittle, 32, has established himself as one of the NFL’s premier tight ends since being selected in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Iowa. His impressive resume includes seven Pro Bowl selections and two First-team All-Pro honors during his nine-year career. The timing is particularly cruel as Kittle had been enjoying another standout season.
Meanwhile, the Eagles’ postseason elimination caps what has been a disappointing 2025 campaign. Head coach Nick Sirianni now finds himself potentially on the hot seat – just one season after leading Philadelphia to a Super Bowl championship. The team’s inconsistent performance throughout the year has raised questions about Sirianni’s future despite his recent success.
