If you’ve ever watched George Kittle haul in a pass over the middle and then proceed to drag three defenders ten yards downfield, you’ve probably asked yourself: how is this guy doing that? He looks like a giant, but he moves like a track star.
Honestly, the eye test can be a bit deceiving in the NFL. When he’s pancaking a defensive end, he looks 6'6". When he’s outrunning a safety, he looks much smaller and leaner.
So, let's get the record straight. George Kittle is 6 feet 4 inches tall.
That is his official listing with the San Francisco 49ers. But if you want to be a real stickler for the details (the kind of stuff scouts obsess over during the draft process), his official NFL Combine measurement was actually 6' 3 3/4".
In the world of professional football, that quarter-inch is basically a rounding error. For all intents and purposes, he’s a rock-solid 6'4".
Why George Kittle Height Matters on the Field
In the NFL, height isn't just about being able to see over the steering wheel. For a tight end, it’s about "catch radius."
Kittle isn't the tallest tight end to ever play the game. Not even close. You’ve got guys like Jimmy Graham or Mo Alie-Cox who tower at 6'7". But Kittle’s 6'4" frame is sort of the "Goldilocks" zone for the way Kyle Shanahan runs his offense.
He’s tall enough to be a mismatch for a 5'11" cornerback. He’s big enough (roughly 250 lbs) to wall off a linebacker in the run game. Yet, he’s not so tall that he loses that low center of gravity. That’s the secret sauce. Because he’s not a 6'7" "lumberer," he can sink his hips into breaks and explode out of them.
The Measurement Breakdown
To understand how Kittle is built, you have to look past the height. Here is how he measured in when he was coming out of Iowa:
- Height: 6' 3 3/4" (Officially listed at 6'4")
- Weight: 247 lbs (Currently listed around 250 lbs)
- Arm Length: 33 1/8"
- Wingspan: 6' 6 1/2"
- Hand Size: 9 1/4"
Look at that wingspan. His arms are significantly longer than you’d expect for a guy of his height. A 6' 6 1/2" wingspan on a 6'4" frame means he essentially plays "taller" than he actually is. When Brock Purdy throws a ball high and away, Kittle uses that extra reach to snag it. It’s like he has the reach of a guy who is 6'6" without the extra weight or height that might slow him down.
Is He "Undersized" for an NFL Tight End?
Believe it or not, back when Kittle was a draft prospect, there were people who thought he might be too small. Can you imagine?
Some scouts actually suggested he might need to move to fullback or "H-back" because they didn't think he had the "length" to hold up as a traditional inline blocker. Kittle famously laughed this off. He once tweeted about it, asking when 6'5" (roughly his height) became "undersized."
The reality is that the average NFL tight end is about 6'4 1/2". So, Kittle is actually right at the league average for his position. He isn't a freakish outlier like Rob Gronkowski was, but he makes up for that with elite athleticism.
His 4.52-second 40-yard dash at the combine is what really separates him. Being 6'4" is great, but being 6'4" and running as fast as a wide receiver? That’s why he’s a Pro Bowler.
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Comparing Kittle to Other Elite Tight Ends
If you look at the "Big Three" tight ends of the last few years—Kittle, Travis Kelce, and Mark Andrews—the height differences are pretty marginal.
- Travis Kelce: 6'5"
- Mark Andrews: 6'5"
- George Kittle: 6'4"
Kelce and Andrews have an inch on him. Does it matter? Not really. Kittle is generally considered the best blocker of the group, which usually requires a lower, more powerful stance anyway. In a way, being an inch shorter helps him get "under" the pads of those 6'6" defensive ends he has to block.
It’s all about leverage. In the run game, the lower man wins. Kittle is a master of leverage.
The Physicality Factor
What’s crazy is that Kittle’s Dad was a college offensive lineman. That’s where George gets that "block first" mentality. He’s gone on record saying he actually enjoys "flatbacking" a defender more than scoring a touchdown.
When you’re 6'4" and 250 lbs and you're coming at a defender with that mindset, you feel a lot bigger than your measurements.
He plays "heavy." Some players are 250 lbs but play "light"—they get pushed around. Kittle plays like he’s made of lead. Whether he’s 6'3", 6'4", or 6'5", the result is the same: the guy across from him is going to have a very long afternoon.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Scouts
If you’re looking at Kittle as a blueprint for what makes a great tight end, don’t just look at the height.
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- Watch the Wingspan: Reach is often more important than raw height. Kittle’s 6'6"+ wingspan is his true advantage.
- Check the Speed-to-Size Ratio: A 6'4" guy running a 4.52 is a nightmare. Height is just a number; speed at that height is a weapon.
- Don't Overthink the Quarter-Inches: Scouts who worried about Kittle being 6'3 3/4" instead of 6'5" missed out on a Hall of Fame talent.
Next time you see #85 lining up, remember that while he's officially 6'4", he plays with the strength of a lineman and the wingspan of a much taller man. It’s that combination of measurements—not just the height—that makes him "The People's Tight End."
If you want to track how Kittle’s physical frame holds up this season, keep an eye on the 49ers' official injury reports and roster updates, as weight can fluctuate based on his training cycle and recovery from his recent Achilles and ankle issues.