When it comes to elite NFL tight ends, George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers still sets the standard.

According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Kittle was the highest-graded tight end in 2025, earning a stellar 90.7 offensive grade. Even in an injury-shortened campaign, the veteran proved he remains one of the most complete and dominant players at his position.

Elite production despite injuries

Kittle suffered a hamstring injury in Week 1 and did not return until Week 7. He also missed Week 17 with an ankle issue. The setbacks limited him to 11 regular-season games, yet he still produced 57 receptions for 628 yards and seven touchdowns — the third-highest single-season touchdown total of his career.

“After nine seasons in the NFL, George Kittle remains at the top of the food chain,” PFF’s Thomas Valentine wrote. “Kittle is the prototypical tight end. He can run-block, he can pass-block, and most of all, he can catch the football.

“Even though he played in just 12 games in 2025 (including the playoffs), Kittle was a force. He caught 58 passes for 634 yards and seven touchdowns, and his 85.3% catch rate was the fourth-highest among tight ends.”

Torn Achilles clouds Kittle’s 2026 outlook

While Kittle continues to play at an elite level, his season ended with a significant setback. During the 49ers’ playoff win over the Philadelphia Eagles, he suffered a torn Achilles.

How Kittle recovers will be pivotal to San Francisco’s offensive outlook in 2026.

“Kittle is just omnipotent at this point,” Valentine added. “He’s earned a PFF grade of over 90.0 in four of his nine seasons in the NFL, and hasn’t compiled a grade under 84.0 since his rookie season.

“The question for Kittle now, though, is how he recovers from a torn Achilles suffered against the Philadelphia Eagles in the wild-card round. Let’s hope the veteran can get back to his best.”

Optimism surrounding Kittle’s recovery

There is some reason for optimism. Kittle is aiming to be back on the field with his teammates for Week 1 — though some feel that might be overly optimistic. Luckily, the Achilles injury was not as severe as it could have been.

“They didn’t have to drill into my heel,” Kittle said in January. “Where the repair was is where there’s more blood flow. And so, it takes some time off the recovery.”

Initial projections placed his return around November, but Kittle has expressed confidence he could be back much sooner, even suggesting a Week 1 return was not out of the question.

Kittle has company

Kittle wasn’t the only 49ers tight end in PFF’s top 20. Jake Tonges came in at No. 9 on the list after earning a 77.9 offensive grade in 2025.

“With Kittle banged up for half the season, the 49ers leaned into 2022 undrafted free agent Jake Tonges for production at the tight end position,” Valentine wrote. “Tonges entered the 2025 campaign with just one target in his career, all the way back in 2022, but he deputized tremendously for Kittle.

“Tonges caught 40 passes for 366 yards and five touchdowns in 17 games, despite playing eight contests with fewer than 10 total offensive snaps on the field. Like Kittle, Tonges is a strong run-blocker, compiling a 74.4 PFF run-blocking grade in 2025 — the fifth-highest among tight ends. Tonges registered four games with a PFF grade over 80.0, and he also compiled a 90.3 PFF grade in the divisional round against the Seahawks.”