George Kittle, top NFL tight end, leans on stem cell treatments from Panama to prevent and recover from injuries

• San Francisco 49ers superstar George Kittle is one of the top tight ends in the entire NFL.
• The four-time Pro Bowler takes a rather unique approach to preventing and treating injuries.

George Kittle isn't taking any chances when it comes to bodily upkeep.

The San Francisco 49ers superstar — who is widely considered one of the best tight ends in the NFL — has repeatedly asked himself "How can we prolong your career and make you feel as good as you possibly can be?" in the seven seasons since he was drafted into the league.

"My dad taught me early on, don't worry about things you can't control," Kittle told GQ. "So I'm very hands-on with the things I can control."

"Putting stuff in my body, that's on me," he added. "I've learned that my body's my business, so why not find the best way for my body to run?"

So he's done just that. Kittle has taken significant steps to optimize his performance, including reducing his consumption of red meat, taking specialized supplements, and cutting back on desserts.

But there's one health hack Kittle has embraced that stands out from the pack; he uses stem cell treatments to help prevent and treat football-related injuries.

Kittle said he has turned to a self-described "therapy and research center" in Panama's capital city called the Stem Cell Institute. He says he first learned about the facility through teammates and has gone on to visit each of the last three years.

Individuals who seek treatment for sports injuries at the Stem Cell Institute receive a series of intravenous infusions of stem cells harvested from donated umbilical cord tissue, according to the company's website. Kittle says the five-day experience has been instrumental in helping him recover from an NFL season's worth of injuries — including Achilles tendinosis — several times over.

"I'm not going to say it can fix anything, but if I'm getting stem cells, it's helping me somehow," Kittle said. "There's no way it's not doing anything."

The four-time Pro Bowler even credited the treatment for expediting his recovery after fracturing his foot during the 2020 season. Though he was told it would take him six to eight weeks to get back on the field, Kittle manage to rejoin his team in just five weeks.

"Stem cells," he said, made a huge difference.

Stem cell therapy for the treatment of sports injuries is not FDA approved in the United States, hence why Kittle must travel thousands of miles for his annual dose.

Even still, there's a growing body of research indicating that stem cells may help restore and regenerate damaged tissues in joints. And while such treatments are not authorized stateside, they're not banned by the NFL.

He's tried plenty of other, more established health measures as well. Kittle told GQ he's "big into pre-hab," or proactive efforts to mitigate injuries and soreness, and incorporates activities such as blood-flow restriction, red light therapy, cold plunges, and saunas into his regular routines.

"I look for as many ways as I can legally make my body feel as good as it possibly can," Kittle said.

The statistics suggest that it's working. Since 2022, Kittle has hauled in 14 receiving touchdowns — trailing only Travis Kelce for most among NFL tight ends. He also ranks top-five in receiving yards and average yards per reception in that span, per Statmuse.