49ers star George Kittle unrecognizable in high school photo without beard, long hair

The All-Pro tight end looked very different coming out of high school in Oklahoma as a 3-star recruit.
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) looks on in the first half against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium.
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) looks on in the first half against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. | Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images

George Kittle is one of the most recognizable faces in the NFL with his long hair and big beard, and with his 6-foot-4 height and 250-pound build, you can’t miss him on the field for the San Francisco 49ers. In high school, however, he looked like the average kid.

The 31-year-old Kittle is known for his personality off the football field as well where he loves to have a good time like his viral beer chugging at Wrestlemania 41 that he clapped back at fans for, and he and his wife Claire’s “Stone Cold” Steve Austin fits, and his full polar bear look that’s a must-see.

RELATED: George Kittle, wife Claire go hippie with fits for Grateful Dead concert

George Kittle and wife Claire
George and wife Claire stand out wherever they go. Here’s the most recent picture of them at BottleRock in Napa. | George Kittle/Instagram

While Kittle was unrecognizable without his beard coming out of the Iowa Hawkeyes in the 2017 NFL Draft in photos he shared, the 146th pick overall in the fifth round was even more so as a high school recruit at Norman High School in Norman, Oklahoma. Kittle shared his picture of then and now on his Instagram Stories with his hair and beard gone.

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George Kittle
George Kittle/Instagram

That’s hard to believe it’s the same guy. It’s also hard to believe he was a 3-star recruit at 1519th overall, and 20th in the state in the class of 2012.

He went from all that to the highest-paid tight end in the NFL with his latest four-year, $76.4 million contract extension he just signed with San Francisco.

Now, Kittle is truly unforgettable and will one day no doubt have his bearded bust in the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

George Kittl
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

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Matt Ryan
MATT RYAN

Matt Ryan is a dedicated sports journalist with over 20 years of experience in digital and linear media. After receiving a Masters in Journalism from USC, he’s worked for Fox Sports, NBC Sports, Yahoo Sports, USA Today Sports Media Group, and Bally Sports, while holding various leadership roles along the way.