GoKawiilThis week’s episode of How Success Happens is quite the banger, thanks to a man who has delivered his fair share of hits on the field for the San Francisco 49ers.
I sat down with tight end superstar George Kittle and his wife, entrepreneur and influencer Claire Kittle, in Pittsburgh, PA, site of the NFL Draft Day 2026. Our chat was set up by U.S. Bank, the official bank and wealth management partner of the NFL. Their partnership focuses on helping players win off the field through the U.S. Bank Financial Edge program, which delivers financial education and guidance throughout a player’s career. As U.S. Bank’s President of Wealth Management Scott Ford put it, “We’re proud to have a program built to support players throughout the full arc of their careers—from the beginning to life after football.”
There may be no better example of people who are planning for sustained success than George and Claire. George has become one of the most prominent and entertaining personalities in the NFL. He has had multiple 1,000-yard seasons and All-Pro selections, and has the third-most receiving yards in 49ers franchise history, behind Jerry Rice and Terrell Owens. Off the field, he co-founded Tight End University and serves as creative director of football at apparel company Chubbies. Claire has built her own thriving career as an influencer, content creator, and model (see her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue cover), connecting with fans through YouTube and Instagram.
George and Claire do not take any aspect of their success for granted. Watch or listen to our chat to get their playbook and read on for key insights so you can start scoring your own wins in three, two, one!
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Three Key Insights
1. When You Win, It’s Time to Work Twice as Hard
George told me that the biggest mistake people make after that first big win—whether it’s a contract, a promotion, or a big client—is thinking they’ve arrived. “Anybody can be successful once or for a couple of days,” he said. “When you find that first sense of success and you’re feeling yourself, that’s when you work twice as hard so you can continue to experience that.” Claire sees it the same way, adding that the opportunities his on-field success creates off the field are “incredible,” but only if you keep treating the work like a privilege, not a guarantee.
Takeaway: The moment you taste success, double down on your preparation, so your next big break feels like a repeat performance, not a lucky bounce.
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