San Francisco 49ers set unprecedented mark on offense

With an 18-yard reception late in the second quarter of the San Francisco 49ers’ Week 17 victory over the Washington Commanders, George Kittle surpassed 1,000 scrimmage yards on the season.

That catch made the 49ers the first team in NFL history with a running back (Christian McCaffrey), two wide receivers (Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel) and a tight end (Kittle) with 1,000 scrimmage yards in the same season.

Entering Week 17, Aiyuk, McCaffrey and Samuel had eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for the season, while Kittle sat at 993 scrimmage yards. Just over three minutes into the game, Kittle caught a 6-yard pass, placing him a yard short of the milestone. His second pass reception of the game made history.

McCaffrey led the way with 2,023 yards from scrimmage for the 49ers, followed by Aiyuk, 1,342; Samuel, 1,317; and Kittle, 1,022. 

When asked about the NFL first, Samuel credited the play of his teammates, namely the 49ers’ offensive line.

“Because the way they protect, the way they block, the way they block in the run game, the way they block in the pass game, it starts and it’s going to end with them,” Samuel said. “And then, on our end, just being receivers and running backs and quarterbacks, we just got to go out there and be at the top of our game and just make plays whenever they come our way.”

With the feat, the 49ers also became the sixth team with four players surpass 1,000 yards from scrimmage. The most recent team also featured McCaffrey: the 2020 Carolina Panthers.

A game-used football from the 49ers’ 27-10 victory over the Commanders, autographed by Aiyuk, Kittle, McCaffrey and Samuel, has been placed on display in Canton in the Hall of Fame’s “Pro Football Today Gallery.”