George Kittle’s “backup wife hug” with Kristin Juszczyk becomes the funniest off-field moment of the 49ers game

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle found himself in a hilarious situation before his team’s victory over the Atlanta Falcons on October 19. The star player, known for his energy both on and off the field, went looking for a good-luck hug from his wife, Claire Kittle—but she was nowhere to be found.

What followed quickly became one of the weekend’s most talked-about NFL moments.

Claire Kittle leaves George hanging before kickoff

Just before kickoff at Levi’s Stadium, cameras captured George, 32, making his way toward the friends and family section, calling out, “Where’s my wife?” When Claire didn’t appear, he didn’t let the moment go awkward. Instead, he turned to teammate Kyle Juszczyk’s wife, Kristin, who happened to be standing nearby. The video shows George laughing as he gives Kristin a hug while she jokingly tells him she has no idea where Claire is.

Kristin, a designer whose creations have been worn by Taylor Swift, Simone Biles, and Brittany Mahomes, took the moment in stride. Later, George reposted the viral clip on social media with a playful caption: “@kriztinjuszcyk thank you for the backup wife hug!” Kristin joined the fun, calling herself the “First team alternate,” followed by a laughing emoji.

A lighthearted moment before a strong comeback

Claire Kittle, 30, didn’t miss the joke. She responded by sharing a photo of George and Kyle celebrating the 49ers’ win, proving there were no hard feelings—only friendly banter.

The game also marked George’s return to the field after missing time due to a hamstring injury sustained in Week 1.Speaking before the game, George expressed how much he missed playing. “I love football, so watching from the sidelines is not very fun. Getting to be back in it, it’s fantastic,” he said.Adding to the excitement, George also ran into actor and wrestler CM Punk on the sidelines, sharing a quick handshake and a few words before kickoff.In true Kittle fashion, what began as a search for his wife turned into a viral, feel-good moment that perfectly captured his fun-loving spirit—and the 49ers’ winning energy.Also Read: ‘‘People are motivated for...": Troy Aikman admits he was ‘caught off guard’ by fan outrage over his Caleb Williams comments