49ers fan-favorite was 1 pick from being drafted by NFC West rival

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle has put together a legendary career in red and gold. It turns out he was nearly a member of the Seattle Seahawks on draft night. The 49ers selected Kittle with the second pick of Round 5 in the 2017 NFL draft.

Kittle relayed a story to CNBC's Alex Sherman that the Seahawks were preparing to draft him when the 49ers called his name. "I think had one phone call at the end of the 4th round," Kittle said. "My agent called me that the Seahawks were looking to draft me with the third pick, and then literally, I think my agent was on the phone with Seattle when the Niners called me to draft me with the second pick of the fifth round.

I thought I was gonna go to Seattle and I ended up going to the San Francisco 49ers. ” What a remarkable sliding doors moment for Kittle, the 49ers and the Seahawks. Kittle with the 49ers developed into the best all-around tight end in the league, and helped spearhead a culture shift that has opened the door to a wide window of contention for San Francisco.

He has become a fan favorite in the process, and had the 49ers not selected him with that fifth-round pick, Kittle could have become a Seahawks player 49ers fans couldn't stand. More 49ers: WATCH: New 49ers WR De'Zhaun Stribling highlights from Ole Miss This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: NFL draft: 49ers TE George Kittle was nearly drafted by Seahawks