In an interview with Barstool Sports' "Bussin With The Boys" podcast, San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle discussed the report following the team's Super Bowl LVIII loss to the Kansas City Chiefs that some members of the squad weren't aware of the new overtime rules for playoff games.
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According to a report by Lindsay Jones of The Ringer, eight-time Pro Bowl fullback Kyle Juszczyk said after the game that he assumed his Niners chose to receive the kickoff in the extra frame because that's what you'd do in the regular season when a touchdown wins the contest.
"I guess that’s not the case. I don’t really know the strategy," Juszczyk said, per Jones.
"I'm pretty sure it was explained to us at one point. And also I knew that we were going to do what we did because our defense just got like ran up the field over the course of like six minutes. So I think they were exhausted. So I was like, 'There's no way we're going to put them back on the field,'" Kittle said. "And so I feel like we all knew what we were going to do, but I was like, 'I'm just going to do whatever the coach asks me to do.' Like, whatever he says, like whether we go offense or defense first, like, I'm gonna go out there and do my job."
The two-time first team All-Pro also directly addressed Juszczyk's apparent uncertainty with the rules, even joking that his teammate's Ivy League past should've assisted him in remembering the situation.
"(Juszczyk) had a hell of a quote like 'Yeah, I had no idea.' I was like 'Juice, I'm pretty sure we did have an idea.' He got crushed," Kittle said. "I was like, 'Dude, Juice Harvard, man. You know this. I promise you. You know this, baby.'"
Juszczyk played four seasons for the Crimson from 2009-2012.
He talked about the controversy two days after the defeat, stating that things got greatly blown out of proportion.
The 53rd edition of the big game was just the second time a Super Bowl went to overtime and was the first instance when any playoff contest went past regulation since the NFL changed its overtime rules in 2022.
San Francisco won the coin toss before overtime and drove down the field but had to settle for a Jake Moody field goal.
That allowed Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes one chance to possess the ball, and that was all he needed, as the signal-caller connected with wideout Mecole Hardman for the game-winning touchdown in the 25-22 victory.
