SANTA CLARA — Tight end George Kittle’s record-setting season earned him his first Pro Bowl invitation Tuesday, and 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk will join him at next month’s all-star festivities.
Three other 49ers are Pro Bowl alternates: defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, kicker Robbie Gould and special-teams player Mark Nzeocha.
Other 49ers who were thought to draw consideration but got snubbed were cornerback Richard Sherman and offensive tackles Joe Staley and Mike McGlinchey.
Kittle, a fifth-round steal last year from Iowa, leads the 49ers with 72 receptions for 1,154 yards. He is the first 49ers tight end with a 1,000-yard season. The only tight end with more yards this season is the Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce (1,220).
As Kittle got interviewed and congratulated by Brian Urlacher on the NFL Network, Kittle said: “I just want to say, you’ve been one of my heroes since I was a little kid so talking to you for the first time ever is pretty big for me. I’m just a huge fan. I grew up a big Bears fan so watching you play and talking to you is pretty awesome.”
Urlacher, the former Bears linebacker and a NFC Pro Bowl captain, said: “I’m excited to have you on the team. You’ve had a great season. You can run. That’s for damn sure.”
Juszczyk’s third consecutive Pro Bowl berth isn’t merely based off few challengers at his position. Rather, he’s been vital in keeping the 49ers offense productive amid three different quarterbacks, including his lead blocks for the 10th-ranked rushing attack (123.4 yards per game).
Juszczyk has played 62.8 percent of the offensive snaps, a huge jump from last season (35.8 percent) as he came from the Baltimore Ravens as a pricey free agent. He’s averaging a career-best 10.7 yards per catch (29 receptions, 309 yards), and he has six carries for 21 yards.
The Pro Bowl will be played Jan. 27 in Orlando, Fla., a week ahead of Super Bowl in Atlanta on Feb. 3.
Two days after players and coaches cast their Pro Bowl ballots, Buckner came through with two sacks and 11 tackles in Sunday’s 26-23 win over the Seattle Seahawks. The NFC’s Pro Bowl defensive tackles are Aaron Donald (Rams), Fletcher Cox (Eagles) and Akiem Hicks (Bears).
Donald is drawing MVP consideration (16 1/2 sacks; 48 tackles, 20 for loss). Buckner’s stats (career-high 11 sacks; 60 tackles, 16 for loss) are better than those of the playoff-contending Cox (7 1/2 sacks; 41 tackles, 9 for loss) and Hicks (six sacks; 51 tackles, 11 for loss).
Buckner’s 11 sacks are the most by a 49er since Aldon Smith had 19 1/2 in 2012, and they’re the most by an interior lineman since Dana Stubblefield had 15 in 1997.
Gould’s 96.7-percent field-goal accuracy leads the league, as he’s made 29-of-30 kicks, including a game-winning fourth field goal Sunday in the 49ers’ overtime upset of the Seattle Seahawks. But the NFC’s kicker will be the New York Giants’ Aldrick Rosas.
Rosas has made 25-of-26 field-goal attempts (.962) and missed just one point-after attempt en route to 109 points. Gould has missed two point-after kicks and has 111 points.
Nzeocha won the online fan voting as 80 percent of his votes came from his native Germany, ESPN reported. He lost out to the Rams’ Cory Littleton. Nzeocha’s six special-teams tackles rank second on the 49ers. Player and coaches account for the other 2/3 of Pro Bowl voting.
Staley made the Pro Bowl six of the past seven years and went last season an injury replacement to the Dallas Cowboys’ Tyron Smith. McGlinchey, drafted ninth overall, has started every game at right tackle his rookie season. But the NFC Pro Bowl offensive tackles are Smith, Terron Armstead (Saints) and Trent Williams (Washington)
Sherman, a four-time Pro Bowler with the Seattle Seahawks, looked to become the first 49ers cornerback to make the Pro Bowl since Carlos Rogers in 2011. He’s rarely been targeted this season, and that helps explain why the NFL’s leader in interceptions from 2011-17 has yet to record one this season. He’s missed only two games in this season’s comeback, having had surgery on both his lower legs.
The NFC’s Pro Bowl cornerbacks are Kyle Fuller (Bears), Patrick Peterson (Cardinals), Darius Slay (Lions) and Byron Jones (Cowboys).
Staley and Juszczyk were the 49ers’ Pro Bowlers last season after the franchise got shut out in 2016.
— Defensive back Tyvis Powell was signed to the active roster for a third time this season, taking the roster spot of cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon, who went on injured reserve with a knee sprain. Powell was released by the New York Jets last Tuesday after a week on their practice squad.
— The 49ers (4-10) play their home finale Sunday against the NFC North-winning Chicago Bears (10-4)
