Wanna see real-life Chandler Bing and Joey Tribbiani? Well, take a look at George Kittle and Kyle Juszczyk’s friendship – Pure Gold. And you just know the friendship is deep when your friend doesn’t wish you a simple ‘congratulations’ but hits you with the most dramatic troll. Even when Kyle recently went through unexpected twists and turns in his career – drastic release and return within a few days. Nothing less than a thriller movie plot, but Kittle had his unique way of addressing the situation.
When the news of Kyle Juszczyk’s release went live, fans and teammates couldn’t believe it. Why? Well, the guy has nine straight Pro Bowls, two All-Pro selections, and a stellar reputation as the game’s best fullback. And it caught him off-guard as well. He then explored free agency with teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers.
And for a second there, the world seemed to stop, as one of the most cherished locker room leaders had been shown the door. But then somehow, the 49ers were frantically hitting the undo button and signed him to a two-year, $8 million deal.
As he was signed back, George Kittle pulled Kyle’s leg – turning the most dramatic moment into comedy. Instead of a simple: welcome back buddy or glad to have you back. He chose to welcome him with a six-word troll: “@juicecheck44 Playable character at Elden Ring.” He posted this on his IG story with a picture of Kyle in kilts with swords in hand – posing like he was getting painted.
Credits: IMAGO
George Kittle’s initial reaction to Kyle’s release was far from amusing. The star tight end posted on his IG stories – throwback pictures of their early days, captioning it: “Day one juice.” Then another was about how he felt awful when he saw Kyle leave – with a broken heart emoji.
And it wasn’t just Kittle feeling these emotions. Kyle’s wife, Kristin, joined in – shared a classic “mood” picture of their dog looking depressed. Just like everyone else. But it took just one decision of the 49ers took flip the mood switch from mourning to celebration.
Then once again Kittle spammed his stories with throwback pictures and then came the last victorious post: a picture of himself, Christian McCaffrey, and Kyle at practice. And captioned it, “Boys are back.” To top it up, he added a song to let his vibe be felt by everyone – “The Boys Are Back in Town.”
But one question arises: why did the 49ers create so much drama around Juice?
The drama around Kyle Juszczyk’s release
The reason why the 49ers released Kyle Juszczyk was purely financial. They had their priorities – QB Brock Purdy. They expect his extension to exceed $50 million annually. To make some room in the salary cap, some players had to be cut off. And Kyle made it to that list at first – with Deebo Samuel, Aaron Banks, and Leonard Floyd. But then, the 49ers had no other option but to bring him back. Because let’s be honest, Kyle was phenomenal in the 2024 season with – 19 RECs for 200 yards and two TDs, along with five carries for 26 yards and one rushing TD.
However, his presence on the field is remarkable, but it goes beyond that. Juice shares a great bond with his teammates, especially George Kittle. Their bond is exceptional – roasting each other even when life gets tough and roasting even harder when it gets better. But beyond football, they have developed a bond like brothers.
And it’s not just their off-field chemistry that is so interesting and heartwarming, they showcase the same love on the field as well. Remember, the iconic ‘Juice Check’ celebration from 2021. When after scoring a TD, both Kittle and Kyle coordinately celebrated – where Kittle mimicked “checking the juice” as a jab at Kyle’s nickname, Juice. It quickly blew up among the fans, becoming a fan-favorite moment.
So, this move by the 49ers wasn’t just about roster – it was a story about brotherhood. And it certainly was like an emotional rollercoaster ride for the both of them. But what do we learn from this shuffle? Even the most accomplished players like Kyle aren’t immune from roster shuffles and cap situations. But thankfully, the Niners reconsidered and Kyle is on board again. And the boys have reunited.
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