San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle recently spoke about the departure of Deebo Samuel, who was traded to the Washington Commanders during the offseason amid a broad reshaping of the 49ers roster. This trade marked the end of a six-year partnership between the two players, with Kittle joining the team in 2017 and Samuel arriving in 2019.
Though the 49ers brought in new talent through the draft and said farewell to several veterans, Samuel’s exit felt especially personal for Kittle. Appearing on the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast, Kittle expressed mixed emotions about the move while remaining hopeful about Samuel’s future.
I’m happy for him that he went to Washington,
Kittle said.
Guys need a fresh start sometimes, and he wanted a fresh start, and so, I’m very happy for him. I’m sad that I don’t have him on my team anymore because I just loved having him around the locker room and stuff like that. But I’m happy for him.
—George Kittle, 49ers Tight End
Kittle sees Samuel’s new environment with the Commanders as a strong opportunity. With the team reaching the NFC Championship Game last season, Washington is aiming to build its success around a youthful, energetic core.
I’m happy he went to Washington because Adam Peters is there, our old assistant GM, and he’s the man,
Kittle added.
And then, also, they’re pretty good at football, too.
—George Kittle, 49ers Tight End
Samuel will now be throwing passes from Jayden Daniels, who was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year last season—a development that excites Kittle.
He’s very talented, Kittle remarked about Daniels, highlighting the promising quarterback-receiver combination that lies ahead in Washington.
George Kittle Identifies Trent Williams as 49ers’ Most Skilled Teammate
When asked to name the most talented player he has ever played alongside, George Kittle singled out veteran left tackle Trent Williams. Despite having played with many outstanding athletes, Williams stood above the rest in Kittle’s eyes.
No, Trent Williams, I think, is probably the most talented player I’ve ever played with,
Kittle stated.
Kittle praised Williams for making the game appear effortless and recalled their first training camp together in 2020, shortly after the 49ers acquired Williams. He fondly remembered the intense practice sessions where Williams often faced off against defensive end Nick Bosa, describing these moments as highlights of camp.
It was like 2020 training camp … when him and Bosa just went at it—it was pretty fun to watch in training camp,
Kittle said.
He also recounted a vivid memory of another teammate’s reaction during those battles.
I just remember Bosa beat him on a one-on-one rep,
Kittle said.
He beat him on like one or two one-on-one reps. And in 2020, we had Jordan Reed on the team, a tight end from Washington who played with Trent, and he was like, ‘Nah, man, that s–t crazy, man. I ain’t ever seen Trent lose, man. This s–t crazy.’
—George Kittle, 49ers Tight End
Williams faced setbacks during the 2024 season, missing seven games due to an ankle injury. Now healthy, the All-Pro lineman is preparing for what many expect to be a powerful return in 2025.
It’s good, Williams recently commented about his ankle.
Yeah, it’s in the past. I got past that one.
—Trent Williams, 49ers Offensive Lineman