George Kittle claims he is already one up over Super Bowl rival Travis Kelce

11 February 2024 , 08:00

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In a game that can terrify even the greatest players, tonight it is the beard that should be feared in Super Bowl LVIII.

Patrick Mahomes and Brock Purdy are likely to be the stars in Sin City as the NFL lights up the Strip. But both quarterbacks know that when trouble comes calling in the NFL showpiece, it is Travis Kelce and George Kittle they will look to for help.

Both play tight end with a heady mix of smash-mouth violence and balletic skill required to succeed in the most all-round position in the game, one that needs exponents to have a little ‘crazy’ in their DNA. That crazy was honed in college football, where both were well-known among teammates as hell-raisers on and off the field.

Now, matured (but with plenty of crazy left in them) and the most exciting tight ends in the game, they clash for the biggest prize, but when it comes to facial hair, San Francisco’s Kittle claims he has won the battle even before kick-off.

“Who has a better beard?” he said. “Me, because it's red. It's gingery. Who has the better sense of humour? He's pretty good.”

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Kelce sports the full, thick style while Kittle goes hipster in a straggle that matches his wild hair. But don’t be fooled by fashion - when these two cross the white line, they bring energy, excitement and all-out commitment to any game.

Kelce, of course, has been living in a goldfish bowl since his relationship with Taylor Swift went public in September but he is comfortable with the attention.

“I feel like it's only giving me energy,” he said, itching to get started days before kick-off. “I'm very fortunate to be in the position I am in life and to have amazing things going for me. I'd be silly to find any negativity in what's going on in my life.

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“Ain't no jitters for me, baby. I'm excited for this one. It's going to be our biggest challenge yet but there's no doubt seeping in.

“We’ve got a great team, and we're going up against a great team. It's going to be one for the ages. I'm fired up. I'm ready to get this show on the road. Put these pads on and get this game rocking.”

While Kelce has won the Super Bowl twice already with the Chiefs, Kittle has just one experience of the big game – the bitter loss to Kelce’s Chiefs four years ago.

Kelce, looking to win his third Super Bowl, will be cheered on by partner Taylor Swift (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

If he can reverse that result tonight, he may add to his tattoo collection, which includes good guys and bad guys on different arms, including the Joker, a reference to his own multi-personalities of fun guy off the field, madman on it.

“I'm in between two right now,” said Kittle of his ink. “From the movie ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’, the Wolf - a huge fan of that. I want him on the back of my hand to go with my Hobbes tattoo. I have a good guy and a bad guy arm.

“So this [left arm] is all villains. These [right arm] are all heroes. Death is a fantastic character. Stitch from Lilo and Stitch, too, because he's kind of a psychopath.”

Two beards but only one winner in Sin City’s gambling paradise. Maybe after tonight, Kittle will have himself on his good guy arm – or Kelce on the other side.