Latest news with #5thAnnualTightEndUniversity
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Sport
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49ers' Kittle Hosts 5th Annual Tight End University
49ers' Kittle Hosts 5th Annual Tight End University originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Monday kicked off the fifth annual Tight End University (TEU) event, originally founded by Hall-of-Fame worthy tight ends George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers, Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs, and retired star Greg Olsen. Advertisement The program is a three-day "camp" environment for tight ends across the league to come together by "participating in a variety of activities including film study, on-field drills, recovery, rehabilitation." The men also walkaway from the event in great spirits after bonding with their compadres in the NFL community. The TEU social media page announced this year's class of attendees in a yearbook-style post. A total of 74 athletes accepted an invitation to participate. The gathering takes place in Nashville on the campus of Vanderbilt University. It brings together the game's best at the position, including the Las Vegas Raiders' Brock Bowers, Minnesota Vikings' T.J. Hockenson, Arizona Cardinals' Trey McBride and Baltimore Ravens' Isaiah Likely. Advertisement Kittle recently spoke on The Dan Patrick Show about the origins of the event. "It started off where we were kinda only doing active players," Kittle said. "The last two years we've opened all active, practice squad, guys who've been in the league but might not be on a team yet." The term "university" isn't just for show, either. Kittle detailed how there are actual school-like responsibilities along with the on-field work. What's the secret to that work? "Syllabus wise, what we do is, we do a classroom session ... and I've talked about run-blocking, pass protection, [yards after catch]. Those are the things I've focused on in the past years," Kittle clarified. Advertisement He explained how Kelce, Olsen, and others have their own teaching opportunities to pour out knowledge and explain their expertise to the young attendees. "Really it's just, we try to cover all the things a tight end does because we're the only position that really gets to do everything," Kittle said. "We kinda try to cover as much as we possibly can in the limited time we have with these guys, and just try to give them that extra step forward in their careers." How much does George Kittle care about Tight End University? The Iowa alum claims TEU as his own. Over the past few years, Kittle has included TEU in his Sunday Night Football introductions. We might hear it again in the Niners' two SNF games in Week 7 and Week 17. Related: 49ers' George Kittle on Robert Saleh Return: 'Violence is Coming' This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Sport
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Insider Shares Brutally Honest Review Of Niners QB
Insider Shares Brutally Honest Review Of Niners QB originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The San Francisco 49ers' main objective heading into the offseason was locking up starting quarterback Brock Purdy to a long-term deal. Following a few months of uncertainty and waiting, they checked that item off the agenda. Advertisement San Francisco signed Purdy to a five-year $265 million extension back in May, making him the seventh-highest paid quarterback in the NFL. Purdy's deal is one well deserved, showing nothing but solid and steady play for the most part since taking over the starting job as the unheralded "Mr. Irrelevant" from the 2022 NFL Draft. The Niners some key pieces on both sides heading into the 2025 season but have added and maintained enough talent that they believe will return their squad to the upper echelon of the NFC. Of course that will require the man under center to execute in Kyle Shanahan's system. Purdy should continue to fulfill that duty and the Niners have a decent backup option in Mac Jones in case of emergency. Meanwhile, the Niners have an ongoing battle for the No. 3 spot behind those two between seventh-round selection Kurtis Rourke and Tanner Mordecai. According to Niners' insider Grant Cohn, the latter has struggled to impress through minicamp. Advertisement "He completed 1 of 4 passes a day after completing 0 of 4. He's just not a particularly good football player, but he supposedly is a scratch golfer. Maybe he's the next Happy Gilmore." It's certainly a brutally honest assessment for Mordecai yet one revealing of the situation. Rourke continues to recover from an ACL injury sustained in his final season at Indiana but projects as a better fit for the system. The battle for the third-string quarterback job is one of minimal importance among those ongoing during the Niners' offseason. But it does fill a spot on the roster that San Francisco hopes they must never rely on though want some insurance on if their situation changes. Related: 49ers' Kittle Hosts 5th Annual Tight End University Related: 49ers' George Kittle on Robert Saleh Return: 'Violence is Coming' This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 24, 2025, where it first appeared.
