George Kittle has always played with the flair of a true showman. Whether he’s revving up the crowd, spiking the ball, or celebrating touchdowns. The star tight end for the 49ers has always carried himself like an entertainer just as much as an athlete. Now, a close family friend believes that Kittle’s future after football might already be mapped out—and it doesn’t look like he’ll be stepping out of the limelight.

On the “What’s Your Story? With Steph McMahon” podcast, Kristin Juszczyk shared that Kittle seems almost destined for WWE once his NFL days are over. “George Kittle was gonna be a WWE star,” Juszczyk said. “I’m like, just retire already and go with WWE.” Stephanie McMahon quickly chimed in, saying, “I know we want him.”

This connection makes perfect sense. Kittle has been a wrestling fan for as long as she can remember and even has connections to some current stars. Juszczyk pointed out that Kittle is a big fan of Penta, the masked wrestler known for his creativity. “Penta’s so cool,” McMahon said, sparking ideas about how Kittle could be introduced to the ring one day. Juszczyk even suggested custom masks to amp up the showmanship.

In the meantime, Kittle is concentrating on healing from a hamstring that has kept him sidelined since Week 1. San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan described him as a “long shot” for Week 6 against the Buccaneers, with Week 7 against Atlanta looking like a more realistic return. His absence has forced the 49ers to make some offensive adjustments, while fans eagerly await his comeback.

Still, hearing those close to him discuss his wrestling future gives a peek into what life might look like after football. Juszczyk put it perfectly: “They’re born to be WWE stars. Okay, that is their persona.” For a player who thrives on big moments, the wrestling ring could be the ideal stage for his next act.

Richard Sherman hails Kyle Shanahan after tough 49ers win

The San Francisco 49ers stepped onto the field at SoFi Stadium on Thursday night looking a bit worse for wear and short on key players. With no Brock Purdy, George Kittle, Nick Bosa, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, or Ricky Pearsall, it seemed like a disaster waiting to happen against a young and talented Los Angeles Rams team.

But to everyone’s surprise, San Francisco jumped out to a stunning 14-0 lead. Their defense set the tone right from the start, and even though the Rams fought back to make it a nail-biter, the 49ers held their ground. Thanks to some late mistakes from Los Angeles and the steady composure of Shanahan’s crew, the Niners managed to pull off a 26-23 victory.

Former cornerback Richard Sherman described it as a defining moment for his former coach. “This was a Coach of the Year signature performance for Kyle Shanahan, and it deserves to be recognized as such,” Sherman remarked. He pointed out that Shanahan’s genius shines brightest when the odds are against him. “In games like this, where it seems impossible for this team to win, they do. That’s when you really start to appreciate him.”

This win also pushed back against a familiar narrative. Shanahan has often been criticized as the coach whose teams falter in crucial moments. Twice in the Super Bowl and again in the 2021 NFC Championship, the 49ers let double-digit second-half leads slip away. On Thursday, it seemed as though history could repeat itself when the Rams fought back from a 14-point deficit.

But this time, Shanahan’s crew managed to close the deal. They could not manage much offense in the second half, but the defense came through when it needed to. For Sherman, that was clear evidence of Shanahan’s influence. A battered roster, a rising rival, and yet another unexpected win for the 49ers.