After Receiving a Jersey From an Army Veteran Before Kickoff, George Kittle Carried That Warrior Spirit Onto the Field as the 49ers Dominated the Titans

Santa Clara, California – Before the San Francisco 49ers took the field for what many viewed as the most manageable game of their late-season stretch, a quiet moment away from the spotlight helped set the tone for what would follow. George Kittle, the emotional heartbeat of the 49ers’ offense, met Army veteran Takumi Abe at Levi’s Stadium before kickoff.

Abe, who was awarded the Purple Heart for his service in Iraq and Afghanistan, greeted Kittle with a firm handshake, a long embrace — and a military jersey handed directly to the All-Pro tight end. There were no cameras staged, no speeches prepared. Just a moment of respect, gratitude, and shared understanding between two warriors from very different arenas.

Kittle didn’t say much at the time, but those nearby noticed the shift in his demeanor. The jersey wasn’t just a gift — it was a symbol of sacrifice, discipline, and resilience. And that message followed him straight onto the field.

George Kittle met up pregame with Takumi Abe, an Army veteran who was awarded a Purple Heart for his service in Iraq and Afghanistan 🤝🫡 pic.twitter.com/0JzzQX0cos

— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) December 14, 2025

When the game reached its turning point in the third quarter, San Francisco unleashed its most dominant stretch of football, scoring 14 unanswered points and effectively putting the Titans away. Brock Purdy commanded the offense with precision, Christian McCaffrey punished Tennessee on the ground, but it was Kittle who set the emotional tempo — through physical blocking, tough catches, and relentless energy.

After the 37–24 victory, Kittle was asked about his pregame meeting with Abe. His tone shifted, the moment clearly still with him.

“I’ve met people who have sacrificed far more than anyone in our locker room. When a veteran hands you his jersey, you don’t step onto the field casually. I carried that spirit into every snap — for my teammates, for this city, and for what that jersey represents.”

The win pushed the 49ers to 10–4 and strengthened their position in the NFC playoff picture, but it also reinforced something deeper about who this team is becoming after the bye week — a group fueled not only by talent and scheme, but by purpose and unity.

In a season filled with pressure and uncertainty, San Francisco found inspiration in a moment that had nothing to do with X’s and O’s. And on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium, the spirit of an Army veteran lived on — through George Kittle — powering one of the 49ers’ most convincing performances of the 2025 season.