With George Kittle down, third-string tight end Jake Tonges stepped up for the San Francisco 49ers in their Week 1 battle with the Seattle Seahawks, catching what ultimately proved to be a game-winning 4-yard touchdown pass from Brock Purdy in a wild 17-13 victory.
In no way, shape, or form could anyone have predicted that the 26-year-old would be the hero in this NFC West rivalry matchup.
Because not only had Tonges never caught a regular-season touchdown pass in the NFL, he'd never caught a pass of any kind in a game that actually counted. In fact, before Sunday, he'd only ever seen one regular-season target, that coming during his rookie campaign with the Chicago Bears in 2022.
Signed by the Bears as an undrafted free agent that year, the Cal-Berkeley spent just one season in the Windy City before joining the 49ers in 2023, spending his first year in San Francisco on the practice squad. He appeared in 16 games a season ago, but spent the vast majority of his time on special teams, taking just 34 offensive snaps.
As Kittle isn't injured often and with the Niners signing former Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Luke Farrell to a three-year, $15.75 million deal during the offseason, Tonges seemed headed for a similar type of season in 2025.
Kittle got off to a fast start on Sunday against Seattle, making three catches for 24 yards on the Niners' opening offensive drive, the last being a 5-yard touchdown. But not long after making a 1-yard grab on San Francisco's second drive, the six-time Pro Bowler was ruled out for the remainder of the game with a hamstring injury.
Despite Kittle's injury, Tonges failed to see a target until the fourth quarter. But once he got his chance, he delivered.
With the Niners trailing 13-10, Tonges made his first NFL catch with 2:30 remaining, taking in a quick 2-yarder to take things into the two-minute warning. On the first play coming out of the break, Purdy found him again, this time for a 9-yard gain for a first down at the Seahawks' 11-yard line.
And just two plays later, Tonges came up with the catch of his life on a 50-50 ball from Purdy, outdueling Seattle cornerback Riq Woolen for the go-ahead score.
Jake Tonges had never caught a pass in the NFL before today.
He has three today. Including this one 🙌 pic.twitter.com/g1xMS2UXub
— NFL (@NFL) September 7, 2025
His heroics nearly went for naught, as former Niners QB Sam Darnold put the Seahawks in position to win by connecting with Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a 40-yard strike down the Niners' 14-yard line. But just a couple of plays later, Nick Bosa came up with a strip-sack to seal the victory.
Nick Bosa as a hero makes sense. But Jake Tonges? Yeah, that's a new one. And if Kittle ends up missing extended time, the fourth-year pro will undoubtedly need to keep stepping up.