George Kittle is thrilled that DeForest Buckner is coming home.
Shortly after the San Francisco 49ers agreed to send a 2027 fourth-round pick to the Indianapolis Colts for the All-Pro defensive tackle, Kittle posted on X with a picture of himself, Buckner and fullback Kyle Juszczyk. His caption was “DEFOOOOO THE BOYS ARE BACK.”
DEFOOOOO THE BOYS ARE BACK @DeForestBuckner@JuiceCheck44@49erspic.twitter.com/jUoMNJ96Dx
— George Kittle (@gkittle46) October 27, 2026
The photo is a throwback to the years Kittle and Buckner spent together in San Francisco. They overlapped from 2017 to 2019, and Juszczyk was in the locker room for all of it. It also fits with Juszczyk’s recent Instagram pitch for a Buckner reunion.
Buckner, a 2016 first-round pick of the 49ers, spent his first four seasons in San Francisco before the team dealt him to Indianapolis for a 2020 first-round pick. He posted 75.5 career sacks across 11 seasons, along with 101 tackles for loss and 196 quarterback hits.
At 32, he is still producing. Buckner has four sacks in seven games this season with 20 pressures.
The move comes as the 49ers deal with injuries inside. Tackles CJ West and Alfred Collins are both dealing with injuries, and Buckner figures to line up next to Osa Odighizuwa and rookie Gracen Halton. Nick Bosa is also due back from a calf strain shortly after the bye week.
San Francisco is off in Week 8, so Buckner should make his 49ers return in Week 9 against the Las Vegas Raiders at Levi’s Stadium.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: George Kittle reacts to DeForest Buckner trade