49ers star TE George Kittle wants QB Jimmy Garoppolo back for 2021

Add San Francisco 49ers All-Pro tight end George Kittle to the growing list of people associated with the franchise who want to see Jimmy Garoppolo return as the team's starting quarterback for 2021. 

“At the end of the day I play tight end here and I just work here, but I think that I do have a little bit of a voice and I’ve said multiple times that I just love playing football with Jimmy G,” Kittle said during a Tuesday appearance on KNBR, per Josh Schrock of NBC Sports Bay Area. “Our team is different when he’s out there, and that’s why it’s fun to play football with him because I think we both have big-time changes to our huddles when we’re both on the football field.

“I can’t say enough about the leader Jimmy G is, and how his presence changes how the team is feeling, how the team is going about its business and how the team practices every day. Jimmy G is our quarterback, and moving forward he’s our quarterback, and that’s all I really have to say about it.

“I’m going to go with the guy that took us to a Super Bowl and played at a high level the entire year. That’s my case for Jimmy G and I think it’s a decent one.”

San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan explained on Monday that he believes Garoppolo will return for next season even though the 29-year-old has dealt with multiple physical setbacks during his tenure with the club. Garoppolo has missed 23 games because of injuries since joining the 49ers in the fall of 2017 but holds a 22-8 regular-season record over that period.

The 49ers can save $24.1 million if they cut or trade Garoppolo in the offseason.