If you’ve been holding onto Kyle Pitts in your dynasty fantasy league since 2021, clutching that draft capital like a winning lottery ticket that just wouldn’t cash, Thursday night was your vindication. It was the “I told you so” moment four years in the making.
In a season that has largely been a comedy of errors for the 5-9 Atlanta Falcons, Thursday’s 29-28 comeback win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers provided a glimpse into an alternate reality—one where the offense actually functions as designed. And at the center of it all was Pitts, looking every bit the “unicorn” label slapped on him when he was drafted fourth overall.
Pitts Joins An Exclusive Club Of Legends
Let’s not mince words: Pitts didn’t just have a good game; he had a historic one. He hauled in 11 catches for a staggering 166 yards and three touchdowns. To put that into perspective, the last tight end to rack up 150-plus receiving yards and three scores in a single game was Shannon Sharpe. That happened in 1996.
For those keeping score at home, that is nearly 30 years ago.
By torching the Bucs’ secondary, Pitts etched his name alongside Sharpe, Kellen Winslow Sr., Todd Christensen, and Rich Caster as the only tight ends since the merger to post such an absurd stat line. It was a complete dismantling of the Tampa Bay defense, proving that when the chemistry with Quarterback Kirk Cousins clicks, Pitts is virtually unguarded.
The “Cheek” Play Heard ‘Round the World
Of course, it wouldn’t be an NFL primetime game without something weird happening. On his third touchdown, the one that brought the Falcons within striking distance late in the fourth quarter, Pitts made a catch that required a lengthy replay review.
He didn’t drag a toe. He didn’t tap a heel. He dragged a cheek. “I definitely thought I got the second foot down,” Pitts said to reporters after the game. “I didn’t know it was my cheek.”
It wasn’t the most graceful way to enter the history books, but in a game decided by a single point, Atlanta will take production however they can get it.
What This Means For Pitts’ Financial Future
The timing of this explosion is fascinating—and perhaps a little bittersweet for Falcons fans. Atlanta is already eliminated from playoff contention. The stakes were low, but the motivation for Pitts was clearly high.
He is currently a pending free agent. Whether he returns to Atlanta or takes his talents elsewhere, Thursday night served as a high-definition audition tape for every general manager in the league. He reminded everyone that despite the inconsistent usage over the last few years, the raw talent that made him the highest-drafted tight end in history hasn’t gone anywhere.
“I just stay in the present,” Pitts said regarding his future. But let’s be honest: a 166-yard, three-touchdown performance usually adds a few zeros to the next contract.
For one night in Florida, playing in the same state where he became a college legend, Pitts was the best player on the field. It might be too little, too late to save the Falcons’ season, but it was plenty to remind the NFL world exactly who he is.
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