As of November 25, 2025, George Kittle, the San Francisco 49ers tight end and former Iowa Hawkeyes standout, has been actively engaged in the ongoing rivalry narrative with Nebraska, following a recent NFL game. After the 49ers' victory over the Carolina Panthers on "Monday Night Football," Kittle publicly responded to trash talk from former Nebraska linebacker Will Compton, expressing his displeasure with Compton's attempts to provoke him before the upcoming Iowa-Nebraska game. Kittle delivered a fiery rebuke, criticizing Compton's timing and referencing Nebraska's recent losses, including a 37-10 defeat to Penn State, while confidently predicting an Iowa win.
- Kittle has a history of strong performances against Nebraska, including a 40-10 win in 2016 where he scored two touchdowns as a goal-line weapon.
- He has consistently shown disdain for Nebraska, notably reacting in 2021 to a Nebraska Twitter post by calling out their repeated losses in the rivalry.
- Despite his rivalry with the Cornhuskers, Kittle has publicly praised Nebraska football, calling Memorial Stadium "one of his favorite stadiums" he has played in, describing it as "like an NFL stadium in college".
- Kittle also made a pointed gesture during a podcast appearance on "Bussin' With the Boys," where he had his personal Iowa helmet delivered to the studio as a "reverse Father's Day gift" to Compton, highlighting the personal nature of the rivalry.
- In a recent appearance on the same podcast, Kittle praised two Nebraska alums on the 49ers roster, showing respect for their contributions despite the competitive history.
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