San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle reignited his playful rivalry with quarterback Brock Purdy after the Iowa Hawkeyes secured a victory over the Iowa State Cyclones. The Hawkeyes won the matchup 16-13 on a late field goal, prompting Kittle to post the score to his Instagram story.
"Never a doubt," Kittle captioned the post, directing it at Purdy. "Get ready to learn Hawkeye buddy @brock.purdy13."
This annual exchange is a continuation of a tradition that began when Purdy joined the 49ers as the last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Kittle, a vocal supporter of the University of Iowa, initially welcomed Purdy with an Iowa Hawkeyes shirt placed in his locker. He later explained this was a test to gauge Purdy's reaction, and Purdy responded with his own "zingers," forging a quick friendship.
The competitive banter between the teammates has escalated in past years. In 2023, Purdy wore a large Hawkeye mascot head following an Iowa victory. The following year, Kittle wore Purdy's former Iowa State Cyclones helmet and modeled an outfit in the team's colors after a loss.
Despite their college allegiances, a mutual respect exists between the players. Kittle has expressed confidence in Purdy's abilities, predicting a "great year" and calling it "his offense." Purdy, in turn, has praised Kittle, referring to him as a "Hall of Fame caliber player" and acknowledging his recovery from a torn Achilles tendon.
While their college football loyalties divide them on one Saturday each year, their bond as teammates on the 49ers remains strong throughout the NFL season.