Two years ago, as he watched the 49ers hurtle toward a 31-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 54, George Kittle was mic’d up as he muttered some self-motivation. Standing on the sideline next to dejected 49ers cornerback Akhello Witherspoon, Kittle told himself, “I will be back here. I will be back here, and I will be back with a motherf–king vengeance.”
One more win Sunday in the NFC Championship against the Los Angeles Rams and Kittle will make his prophecy true. On Thursday, a reporter asked Kittle about that pep talk on the field in Miami.
“I said those words because I actually believe those words,” Kittle said. “We're on the doorstep, and this whole season actually means nothing unless we get this win.”
This season’s ride has been different from 2019, when the 49ers relatively cruised into the Super Bowl.
This time around, the Niners are riding a three-game streak of epic road wins – one each at SoFi Stadium, Jerry’s World and Lambeau Field. Now they’re back where it all started. It’s worth noting that Super Bowl 56 will be hosted by SoFi Stadium on Feb. 13. Three trips to SoFi – er, Levi’s South – in five weeks sounds good to Kittle.
"I said those words because I believe in the fact, I believe in myself, and I believe in this football team, that we have an opportunity to get back to the Super Bowl," Kittle said. "I believe in our coaching staff. It's a fantastic team, a great organization, a great owner. And I just believe in our ability to win games, and win tough games, win gritty games, to win blowout games, to bounce back from injuries, bounce back from losses, fight through adversity. And that's what this team, what this organization has done.”
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Kittle also admitted that there’s an extra buzz around the franchise as it prepares for its second NFC title game in three years and fifth since the 2011 season.
“Definitely not a normal week,” Kittle said. “NFC Championship is pretty cool. One of four teams remaining while 28 other teams are home wishing or planning how they can get here next year. The fact that we’re here and that we’ve earned the opportunity to play in this game, it’s awesome. I think guys are – I don’t want to say more locked in – but there is a different type of focus.”
