If you're wondering what effect Joe Staley had on his 49ers teammates in 13 seasons, look no further than George Kittle's tribute to the All-Decade left tackle.
The 49ers posted the All-Pro tight end's emotional message for Staley hours after he announced his retirement Saturday. You might want to keep a tissue box nearby.
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"You always knew when to pick me up, and you always knew the right thing to say," a choked-up Kittle said as he honored his long-time teammate.
Kittle's tearful message didn't take long to reach a tearful Staley.
[RELATED: Staley played with ridiculous number of 49ers QBs in his career]
Staley played with Kittle for three of his 13 seasons after the 49ers drafted the tight end out of Iowa in 2017. During that time, Kittle emerged as one of the best players at his position, earning All-Pro honors in 2019 and setting the single-season record for receiving yards by a tight end in 2018.
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To hear him tell it, he couldn't have done it without Staley's help.
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