From 2017 to 2021, Jimmy Garoppolo started 45 games for the San Francisco 49ers, more than any other quarterback for the team during that time. So, imagine how good George Kittle’s numbers would have been if a better quarterback like, say, Brock Purdy, had been under center for the Niners during those years.
Actually, that is exactly what George Kittle‘s wife, Claire, was thinking when she shared a post to her Instagram story Tuesday night.
Claire Kittle’s post included an image that read, “The most efficient QB-TE connection in NFL history. According to PFF tracking data, Brock Purdy to George Kittle ranks No. 1 all-time among QB-TE duos with a 0.750 EPA per play (minimum 75 targets).
“Across all pass-catchers, they rank 4th overall in efficiency — but have sustained that efficiency at a much higher volume than the wide receiver duos ahead of them… And somehow, it keeps getting better.”
Claire Kittle wonders how good her husband would have been if he had a better quarterback his first five years in the NFL
“Just imagine if he had a consistent QB week to week for the first 5 years of his career lol… Thankful to have Brock at the helm. This duo has a lot of records together. Let’s keep it rolling,” Claire Kittle wrote over the top of the image.
In fairness to Jimmy Garoppolo, Claire Kittle didn’t single him out. Also, Nick Mullens started 16 games, C.J. Beathard started 12, Brian Hoyer started six games, and Trey Lance started twice during those five years for the 49ers.
That being said, Garoppolo went 31-14 in his 45 starts during the regular season between 2017 and 2021. He also started all six of the 49ers’ playoff games during that span, including taking San Francisco to the Super Bowl in 2019. So it isn’t like George Kittle had a scrub throwing to him during all of those seasons.
Kittle had 335 receptions for 4,489 yards and 20 touchdowns during that time frame. In the four years since then, he has caught 260 passes for 3,519 yards and 32 touchdowns. So, while he has certainly caught more touchdown passes in the years since Garoppolo and company departed, his averages during his first five years were actually 67 receptions for 898 yards, while his averages since are 65 receptions for 880 yards.