When George kittle, the then-soon-to-be 49ers tight end, persevered through a bloody crash, scouts were impressed by his work at the 2017 nfl scouting combine.
Kittle explained his eerie start to a crucial performance in a resurfacing episode of nfl films’ “a football life,” which was released in november.
Kittle told nfl films, “i was definitely stressed out.” “my eyes were so dry. [mas] nose was dry. We also do the run-blocking drill in which another tight end is holding the pad.
I fired off and hit it, and the bottom of the pad just comes up and smokes me in the nose, which it didn’t hurt, but it did. A faucet comes out of my nose immediately.
“finally, they came back with a roll of toilet paper and handed it to me, and for the next two hours, i was just shoving toilet paper up my nose, and it was amazing.”
Rich eisen, then-nfl network draft analyst, said, “looks like kittle took a header somewhere during the combine’s broadcast.” What a way to keep his nose from bleeding.” kittle was ecstatic about the incident, which was understandable.
At the combine, he would finish as the ninth-best tight end with the 16th-best production score (69), fifth-best athleticism score (87), and a total score of 75. However, league scouts were drawn to his 4.52-second 40-yard dash.
The prospect rose to the top of the 2017 nfl draft boards due to his athleticism, but his impressive workouts with iowa teammates, like quarterback c.j., earned him acclaim. Beathard stood out above all else.
Beathard and then-49ers quarterbacks coach rich scangarello met for a workout in particular after a sleepy kittle refused to participate after a late night on the town.
“i called george a few days before, saying, ‘hey, dude, i got a workout with the 49ers,’” beathard told nfl films. “their quarterback coach is coming to work me out,” kittle said, “i had like three workouts that week.”
And i told cj, ‘i’m not going to throw for you guys.’ You’re welcome, i have other guys… i stayed out late. And the morning of, when he calls me and wakes me up, he says, ‘hey, these guys bailed on me, they can’t make it.’ I was like, ‘i don’t know, man.
‘ I don’t think i want to put this version of myself in front of any coaches,’ and he says, ‘i need you.’ i was like, ‘ok,’ and the next day i was on a flight to visit the 49ers, presumably because of the workout.
Some weeks later, san francisco signed kittle and beathard, bowing their great iowa careers with a classic tale to remember for ages.
The tight end, on the other hand, caught the eye of the world after a bloody nose during a drill against a pad.
