HENDERSON, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 07: George Kittle #85 speaks to the media during San Francisco 49ers media availability ahead of Super Bowl LVIII at Hilton Lake Las Vegas Resort and Spa on February 07, 2024 in Henderson, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)
What happened to George Kittle?

Former Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy and former Iowa tight end George Kittle played key roles for the San Francisco 49ers all season, but one of them did not show up at all against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Kittle’s catch in the fourth quarter set up a score two plays later. That was his first catch of the game. He would have one more catch in a game that went to overtime.

The 49ers tight end is being blasted not only for his performance but what he stated four years ago at the Super Bowl.

Kittle was mic’d up when the two teams last squared off in the Super Bowl in Miami. As Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs cruised to a 31-20 win, Kittle was on the sideline, prophesizing his return to the big stage.

‘I will be back here,’ Kittle said then. ‘And I will be back with a vengeance. You will not get the best of me, no sir.’

The Chiefs’ defense got the best of him:

Four yards on the night.

4 yards is wild dawg https://t.co/LpFNbkhedC

— 🌞 (@w7stgoat) February 12, 2024

For the last two playoff games, Kittle had just four catches for 31 yards.

Mahomes threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman in overtime, and the Chiefs rallied to beat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 on Sunday, becoming the NFL’s ninth repeat Super Bowl champs. It was the fourth Super Bowl win for the Chiefs franchise and the third for the team under coach Andy Reid.

Coach Kyle Shanahan is still chasing a title after losing another Super Bowl.