according to Claire KettleWife of San Francisco 49ers star George Kittlethere is still reason for optimism in the midst of a very disappointing season for the franchise.
The 49ers officially saw their playoff chances evaporate on Sunday, December 22, one season after winning the NFC and taking the Kansas City Chiefs to overtime in Super Bowl LVIII in February.
In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly On Wednesday, Dec. 18, just days before the 49ers' playoff aspirations came to an end, Clare, 30, spoke about the camaraderie inside the San Francisco locker room.
“We have a great group of guys and they all really love each other and hang out outside of football,” said Claire, who spoke to us while promoting Kittles' collaboration with Zenni Optical. “They just enjoy spending time with each other and keeping that positive light.”
The San Francisco 49ers' disappointing season has gone from bad to worse. During the team's deciding matchup against the Los Angeles Rams on Monday, December 12, linebacker DeVondre Campbell was asked to enter the game in the third quarter. However, Campbell (31 years old) refused to take the field. In the fourth quarter, Campbell (…)
Claire added: “They really enjoy each other. That's always a good thing because that's definitely not the case in every locker room.
However, Claire couldn't help but acknowledge the elephant in the room: the team's losing record.
“They're competitors, they're professional athletes. They want to win and they want to be successful,” Claire said. “So, yes, of course there is a certain level of disappointment. But you just look at it as a learning experience and you try to really make the most of the moments you have left, because every year is so different.”
She continued: “Bands change, you know? You don't know if you will play with your friends again or if you will be on the same team. As far as George is concerned, he really tries to focus on that and make it a good experience for everyone.
The 49ers were officially eliminated from playoff contention when the Washington Commanders and Los Angeles Rams, both ahead of them in the NFC standings, won their respective games on Sunday. The Niners would next lose to the Miami Dolphins 29-17 on Sunday afternoon.
San Francisco has two games remaining on their schedule: Monday, December 30 at home against the Detroit Lions and Sunday, January 5 at the Arizona Cardinals.
Although the football season did not go as planned, Claire thanked the scheduling gods for allowing it The couple — who married in April 2019 — to spend the holiday season at home.
“We were talking about it yesterday and we were looking at our schedule and we were like, 'I don't know that we've ever had a Christmas day before just the two of us,'” Clare told us. “We're looking forward to it.”
As George Kittle's football career has evolved over the years, so has his relationship with his wife, Claire Kittle. The duo met during their freshman year at the University of Iowa in 2012, where George played for the school's soccer team and Claire played for the women's basketball team. The two graduated in 2016 and (…)
While the couple are having a relaxing Christmas together, Clare said there will be plenty of family time “the following weekend” at the couple's home in California.
It's an extra special holiday season for the Kittles, who have teamed up with eyewear line Zenni Optical to unveil their latest collection of 30 new designs for both men and women.
“It's really cool,” Claire said of the brand. “They give back to the community in the Bay Area. They do a lot of workshops in the area with the Niners that we will be a part of. George and I are involved in the entire design process. We pick and choose what we like, and send them our own inspiration. It's been really fun for George And I want to do it together.
To learn more about the Kittles with Zenni line, which starts at just $35.95, visit Brand website.
