George Kittle Reveals Family Cancer Battle That Changed His Approach To Health

George Kittle reveals what changed his health priorities© Instagram/ @gkittle

George Kittle blocks linebackers for a living, but the opponent on his mind right now is one that sneaks up quietly. The 49ers tight end, 33, has teamed up with Novartis to push men toward a simple prostate cancer screening. His reason is personal. His grandfather was diagnosed a decade ago and died of natural causes last year. Kittle admits he knew almost nothing about the disease until then. Now he has a message for anyone putting a checkup off, and he delivers it with the same energy he brings on Sundays.

George Kittle prostate cancer awareness starts with his grandfather

After his grandfather's death, Kittle talked with his father, Bruce. That conversation sent him looking for answers. He had a lot to learn. "I had zero awareness. I had no idea about anything except I was just like, all right, well it's prostate cancer. I don't know anything," says Kittle, an ambassador for Novartis and one of the many NFL athletes who appeared in the company's "Relax, It's a Blood Test" campaign earlier this year.

The numbers explain the push. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men after skin cancer, and at least one in eight will face it. Catch it early and "the five-year relative survival rate is over 99%," per Novartis. The first step is a talk with a health care provider about personal risk, followed by a blood test. Kittle makes it sound easy because, to him, it is. "You go in, get blood tested and then you continue to live your life," says Kittle, adding, "It's not scary, it's not intimidating, it's pretty straightforward."

Kittle's "Relax, It's a Blood Test" message and his Achilles comeback

The seven-time Pro Bowler has a pitch for anyone who hates needles. "Relax. It's a blood test. It's so easy. Trust me, I get IVs, I get blood tests, I get acupuncture. You can deal with the needle. It's okay. It's one little prick, you're good, and it can save your life. It can save your friend's life, it could save your dad's life. Spread the word," says Kittle.

He also added, "I'm not a doctor, but you should talk to your doctor."

That same outlook helped him on the field. Kittle is in his 10th NFL season and returned last month after tearing his Achilles in the playoffs in January. He credits a "positive mindset" for the quick return. "I try to attack everything with a violently positive mindset," he says. "It doesn't matter your situation, just attack it as best you can. I'm lucky, I live a life where I can do that. My wife [Claire] loves me, my parents are healthy, I play football for a job. I don't have a lot to complain about. Okay, I tore my Achilles. All right, well, cool."

The results look good. Through seven games, Kittle has 34 catches for 425 yards and five touchdowns. San Francisco leads the NFC West at 6-1 and visits the Raiders on Sunday, Nov. 8.