George Kittle is still working towards his full recovery as the San Francisco 49ers are close to beginning their 2026 NFL season. The team will open their regular season with a special international game in Australia against the Los Angeles Rams on September 11, 2026.
Kittle suffered a serious injury last season which kept him out for much of the offseason. He has returned to training recently, and also had to defend his teammates online.
The 49ers arrived in Melbourne ahead of their historic Week 1 matchup against the Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. It will be the first ever NFL game played in Australia and is part of the league's strategy to attract international viewers. As part of their stay, the team checked into the Park Hyatt Melbourne, where they were greeted by general manager Oliver Kahf and the hotel's ambassador named Charlie.
Jan 11, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) looks on during warmups prior to an NFC Wild Card Round game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Charlie is an eight-year-old yellow Labrador Retriever also known as Crescendo Charlie, and serves as the hotel's full-time ambassador. He succeeded the longtime guide-dog retiree Mr. Walker and focuses on guest engagement throughout the property. The 49ers organization had sent a custom team jersey with Charlie's name for the occasion, which the dog wore during the arrival.
#melbourne #season #team
Kittle suffered a serious injury last season which kept him out for much of the offseason. He has returned to training recently, and also had to defend his teammates online.
The 49ers arrived in Melbourne ahead of their historic Week 1 matchup against the Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. It will be the first ever NFL game played in Australia and is part of the league's strategy to attract international viewers. As part of their stay, the team checked into the Park Hyatt Melbourne, where they were greeted by general manager Oliver Kahf and the hotel's ambassador named Charlie.
Jan 11, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) looks on during warmups prior to an NFC Wild Card Round game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Charlie is an eight-year-old yellow Labrador Retriever also known as Crescendo Charlie, and serves as the hotel's full-time ambassador. He succeeded the longtime guide-dog retiree Mr. Walker and focuses on guest engagement throughout the property. The 49ers organization had sent a custom team jersey with Charlie's name for the occasion, which the dog wore during the arrival.
#melbourne #season #team
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