Former Iowa Hawkeyes star George Kittle is in the midst of arguably the most difficult season of his NFL career.

Kittle’s San Francisco 49ers – who were Super Bowl contenders in 2024 – fell to just 5-6 with last Sunday’s loss to the Green Bay Packer, further limiting their playoff chances.

However, the tight end is not giving up hope despite severe adversity.

“My optimism is by no means broken,” Kittle told reporters. “We still have a lot of very talented players. We’re going to get some guys back. And I still have every confidence in the coaching staff to put our guys in a position to make plays and I’m not worried about that. But it will definitely go uphill.” grind and see what we’re capable of, which I’m looking forward to.

You have to love Kittle’s fighting spirit, but it seems hard to imagine the 49ers righting the ship in their current predicament.

San Francisco is dealing with a plethora of injury issues across the roster, including quarterback Brock Purdy, who missed the Packers’ game with a shoulder problem.

Kittle himself had a strong performance in Week 12, recording six catches for 82 yards and a touchdown. With a total of 49 balls for 642 yards and eight goals in nine appearances, he was impressive as usual this season.

But not even Kittle can save the Niners from all of their current problems.

The 49ers face the Buffalo Bills on Sunday in a matchup that could ultimately decide their playoff fate.