George Kittle trolls Miami, plugs business venture with intro graphic
Former Iowa tight end and current San Francisco 49ers star George Kittle decided to plug his recent business venture and troll the college football world ahead of his Week Three matchup against the Green Bay Packers. Like many in recent years, the All-Pro tight end went off script when introducing himself to the Sunday Night Football audience.
After second-year wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk gave his name with the standard college behind it (Arizona State), Kittle’s face popped onto the screen.
“George Kittle, Tight End University,” he said into the camera as the game began behind his graphic.
The label of Tight End University has been disputed for years and becomes more complicated with the recent venture by Kittle and other Pro-Bowl tight ends under the same name. The joke works on many levels, allowing each fan to draw their own conclusion.
With two options on the table, here is a look at the old and new Tight End University storylines.
‘Position U’
Each school lays claim to a ‘Position U’ title, while not as hotly contested as DBU, TEU has become a point of emphasis for several schools over recent years.
Among the top talent producers is George Kittle’s alma mater, Iowa. The Hawkeyes have put out more than their fair share of top-level NFL tight ends over the past decade, with four making 2021 rosters.
Kittle is the cream of the crop, but former first-round picks T.J. Hockenson and Noah Fant promise to become staples in the league over the next several years. Parker Hesse also made the Falcons roster this season with former Iowa tight end Shaun Beyer on the practice squad in Denver.
Miami and Notre Dame dispute Iowa’s claim to this title, with Miami given the edge in ESPN’s 2021 ‘Position U’ rankings. A Mount Rushmore featuring Jeremy Shockey, Greg Olsen, Bubba Franks and Jimmy Graham is hard to beat. In addition, Miami has four active tight ends of their own.
Tight End University
Putting aside the rivalries, a group of the NFL’s top tight ends put together a camp where up-and-coming tight ends can learn from the world’s best.
According to ESPN, the idea for Tight End University came together after George Kittle noticed Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller and the pass-rushers do a summit and Philadelphia Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson and the offensive linemen have their own summit.
“There’s a holiday [National Tight Ends Day on the last Sunday of October], so why don’t we have a tight end summit? Why not have a little time where we can come together and learn from the best in the country,” Kittle told ESPN.
Working with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller, the idea grew into a league-wide phenomenon. Among the attendees were former Hawkeyes T.J. Hockenson and Noah Fant. Austin Hooper and rookie first-rounder Kyle Pitts were also there.