Atlanta Falcons See Encouraging Performance from Kyle Pitts vs. Buccaneers
ATLANTA, Ga – The Atlanta Falcons’ Week 1 23-20 loss to Tampa Bay came with disappointment, but it also offered a promising glimpse of Kyle Pitts Sr's resurgence.
The former No. 4 pick from Terry Fontenot’s first draft in 2021 has never quite lived up to his ‘unicorn’ billing from his rookie scouting report, but Sunday did provide a snapshot of what he could potentially be for the Falcons this season as he enters the final year of his rookie contract.
Pitts was targeted eight times on the day, catching seven passes for 59 yards, with 38 of those coming after the catch. He was second on the team in all three categories.
“I thought he did a nice job, you know, like he went out there, made a couple plays,” head coach Raheem Morris said Monday. “Whether it was chip flats, or he was part of the short passing game that we had to go to in order to keep the sticks moving. You know, he made a couple big-time third-down catches.”
More important than the stat line was the level of effort Pitts showed, with five of his catches moving the chains.
You could see it in particular on the team’s final drive as Michael Penix Jr was driving the team down the field. With London banged up late and Mooney sidelined, Pitts became the go-to option on the final drive. He caught both of his targets on the drive and helped get the Falcons in position to win the game.
“He had a nice catch and run on a couple of plays, whether it was a stick route to the flat or really using his body and his stiff arm to create some more space for himself,” Morris continued. “He did some really good things. Did some good stuff in the run game, he did a nice job with some of his check blocks and, you know, helping out over there, and protection and some of those different things.”
Pitts himself downplayed his strong performance after the game, saying, “I mean, it's good on the stat-sheet but we didn't get a win.”
But after several seasons of inconsistency, this could be something to build on for Pitts. Since his breakout first season, where he flirted with the rookie record for receiving yards as a tight end, he has struggled to return to that level of production.
Pitts got off to a slow start in year two, but that season was ultimately derailed by a knee injury. He followed that up with a pair of 600-yard seasons, but he was targeted 18% less in 2024 than he was in 2023, and 33% less than he was in 2021.
If Sunday was any indication, the still 24-year-old tight end could be a more featured part of the offense with Penix under center, where he was targeted on 19% of his attempts. In the small sample size, his target share would extrapolate out to what would be a career high 136 targets for a full season.
The relationship between Penix and Pitts took center stage during training camp after it came out that they were golfing buddies, but they will be expected to take that connection to the next level in the regular season.
Again, it is a small sample size with a pair of key contributors missing time in the game, but this is encouraging for a player who still possesses the physical tools to be a difference-maker in this league and change the look of this offense in Atlanta.
If Pitts can build on this performance, the Falcons may finally unlock the unicorn they drafted in 2021, and just in time for a pivotal contract year.
Peyton Manning Pays Heartfelt Tribute to Late Jim Irsay on ManningCast: ‘The Owner Every Player Would Want’
During an emotional moment on ManningCast, Peyton Manning paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Jim Irsay, the legendary owner of the Indianapolis Colts. This tribute came after Irsay was posthumously inducted into the Colts Ring of Honor during the 2025 season opener.
“We lost Jim in May, and Eli, he was the kind of owner every player would want to play for,” Peyton shared with his brother Eli Manning. “His office was at the practice facility, he was out there at practice every day, in the locker room after every game—home or away, win or loss—the answer was always ‘Yes’ if it helped the Colts win.”
Peyton continued, “It was an honor to play for him, and a great ceremony yesterday in Indianapolis, putting Jim Irsay in the rightful place in the Colts’ Ring of Honor.”
The news of Irsay’s passing in May deeply affected Manning, who posted on social media expressing his sorrow. Manning described Irsay as an “incredibly generous and passionate” owner and promised his “legacy will not be forgotten.”
“I am heartbroken to hear about Jim Irsay’s passing,” Manning wrote. “He was an incredibly generous and passionate owner, and I will always be indebted to him for giving me my start in the NFL. His love for the Colts and the city of Indianapolis was unmatched. His impact on the players who played for him will not be forgotten. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and everyone in the Colts community. He will be missed. Jim, rest in peace my friend.”
Irsay passed away on May 21, 2025, at the age of 65, peacefully in his sleep at his Beverly Hills home. He was inducted into the Colts Ring of Honor during the 2025 season opener, facing the Miami Dolphins on September 7, a fitting tribute to his contributions to the franchise and the city of Indianapolis.
Manning’s tribute not only honors Irsay as an owner but also reflects the deep, personal bond between the two, emphasizing Irsay’s lasting legacy with the Colts and the players who had the privilege of playing under his leadership.
