Tight End University commenced, the 29-year-old was bouncing between the lobby of the Thompson Hotel in Nashville to greet each of the 75-odd NFL TEs in attendance—before racing up to promote his debut apparel collection from Chubbies. Spare minutes, like yards after contact, are a fight. But that’s typical for Kittle: Overshadowed at the University of Iowa and picked well back in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft, the cream always rises, and over a remarkable career, he’s emerged at the top of the league, playing for a surefire Super Bowl contender.
Kittle, in a vintage Kodiak smokeless tobacco shirt, sat in an oversized hotel chair as his barber faded his sides into a pinned-up mop of shoulder-length blonde hair. His diet has changed dramatically from his “string bean” youth, he says, influenced by his family, his team’s support staff, and listening to his own body. The resulting four Pro Bowl appearances are significant accomplishments. But Kittle’s not slowing down.
For Real-Life Diet, GQ talks to athletes, celebrities, and other high performers about their diet, exercise routines, and pursuit of wellness. Keep in mind that what works for them might not necessarily be healthy for you.
GQ: Your dad, Bruce, was college football player and, later, a coach. What did he teach you about nutrition growing up?
George Kittle: It’s evolved a lot since I was a kid. My dad was big into getting calories and protein in you. I was small and undersized, especially for a tight end, so at that point, it was all calories are good calories. He was always focused on, Hey, take an extra peanut butter and jelly and a glass of milk before you go to bed — stuff like that to help me put some weight on.
My dad ate meat but my mom was a vegetarian, so we got a balance of those two things. I’d eat steak or burgers, and I’d do pasta and veggies another night. I preferred meat, but I enjoyed my mom’s cooking as well. Now, everyone in my family is vegetarian—dad, sister, and my mom. They don’t push, but they always offer different vegan options. Now, my dad’s big on “Red meat is not the right way to eat.” I used to have it every meal. Now I do not.
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