By Chalien Dantes

George Kittle’s night was brutal on Sunday when the 49ers star tight end was carted off the field in the second quarter with what appears to be a torn Achilles. But while the injury cast a shadow, the mood inside the locker room told a very different story.

Shortly after Kittle was helped away, reporter Diana Russini noticed a team staffer heading into the locker room carrying what looked suspiciously like a bottle of tequila. By the time the game was over, the mystery was solved. The bottle was Patrón, and it was empty.

The celebration followed San Francisco’s gritty 23–19 win over the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Wild Card round. According to the San Francisco Standard, owner Jed York went into the locker room after Kittle’s injury to check on his star. Minutes later, a bottle from York’s suite made its way downstairs at Kittle’s request.

Whether Kittle enjoyed it himself or passed it around remains a mystery. What is clear is that the locker room vibe flipped from concern to celebration in a hurry. Pain gave way to relief and joy after a season filled with setbacks and bodies dropping left and right.

Despite the loss of one of their emotional leaders, the 49ers pushed through and now move on to face their NFC West rivals, the Seattle Seahawks, in the divisional round. Kittle’s playoff future is uncertain, and his season could be over. The celebration, however, is not.