George Kittle Refuses to Swap Jersey With Texans Rookie – Texas Fans Initially Angry, But When They Learn the Reason, Everyone Calls Him “The Heart of San Francisco”

October 26, 2025 | Houston, Texas

Right after the game between the San Francisco 49ers facing the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium, a small but meaningful moment between George Kittle and a rookie from the home team moved the entire NFL – and once again proved why he is considered the soul of the 49ers.

According to witnesses in the tunnel area, after the game, a young Texans player approached to greet and offered to swap jerseys with Kittle after the match – a tradition full of respect among players. Kittle smiled, shook hands, and said softly:
“Not this time, I’ve already promised to give this jersey to someone special.”

At first, some Texans fans misunderstood that Kittle “refused without goodwill,” but just a few hours later, the real reason behind that refusal made everyone silent.

According to information from the 49ers team, George Kittle had received a letter from Mason, a 10-year-old boy from San Jose, who is in the process of recovering after a bone marrow transplant. In the letter, Mason said that he was his “superhero” – the person who inspired Mason to continue fighting the illness, writing that: “Every time you score a touchdown, I feel like I can overcome it too.”

Touched by the letter, Kittle arranged for Mason and his family to fly to Houston to watch the game as honorary guests of the 49ers. Before leaving the hospital, Mason said to him a sentence that made anyone who heard it choke up:
“If I get to watch you play, I just hope to get that jersey to keep as a memory.”
Kittle bent down, held the boy’s hand, and replied: “I promise, Mason.”

Therefore, when the Texans player offered to swap jerseys, Kittle was not cold – he was just keeping a sacred promise to a boy who needs hope to continue living.

After the game, Kittle shared in a short interview that made millions of people cry:
“Mason said that his biggest dream was to see me play football in real life. I told him that if he came to the stadium, I would give him my first jersey – and that is something I will never break. Football is great, but seeing a child smile, believing that everything will be okay… that is bigger than any victory.”

The story of George Kittle spread across social media, moving fans of all 32 NFL teams. George Kittle has won in the hearts of fans, as a symbol of compassion, humility, and the great heart of the San Francisco 49ers.