ATLANTA, GEORGIA – SEPTEMBER 28: Kyle Pitts #8 of the Atlanta Falcons scores a touchdown against Demetric Felton #25 of the Washington Commanders during the third quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 28, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) Getty Images
It’s not the first time since his memorable rookie season that Kyle Pitts has had a stretch of productive games. In October 2023, he found a three-game groove lining up in the slot more often and finding openings against zone coverage. The glimpses of efficiency turned into a month of genuine playmaking in October 2024. From shining in a Thursday night victory over Tampa Bay to making timely plays against Carolina and Seattle, Pitts produced 65 or more yards in four consecutive games. That exciting stretch culminated in a two-touchdown performance against Tampa Bay in another thrilling win, where both touchdowns showed his capabilities vertically and after the catch.
Pitts wouldn’t reach those heights again, as he only produced over 50 receiving yards one more time for the rest of the season. Similar to the 2023 season, he became anonymous in games. For someone with his dynamic skill set to be an afterthought is nonsensical. That said, it would be illogical to place the entire blame on the coaching staff’s questionable personnel usage and inept quarterback play for his disappointing production.
There were instances where Pitts didn’t look fully healthy getting out of his breaks on routes. The season-ending PCL and MCL injuries he suffered in 2022 affected him in 2023. When he was reportedly healthy in 2024, the former fourth overall pick didn’t seem completely engaged at times. His body language was poor after certain plays. Routes trailed off when Kirk Cousins was attempting to get him involved. While the big-play flashes provided occasional optimism, many felt it was a foregone conclusion that Pitts would never come close to the player the Falcons envisioned him to be.
Don’t write off the ultra-talented tight end just yet. After being in trade reports this past offseason, Pitts has responded by looking completely rejuvenated. There is a greater attention to detail in routes and handling blocking responsibilities. He is winning in man coverage and capitalizing on mismatches. There appears to be a functional plan to maximize his skill set with an ascending quarterback in Michael Penix Jr., who can push the ball downfield and move in the pocket when dialed in. Pitts is off to his best start since 2021, and it looks like the production will be sustainable after years of frustration.
Embracing A Traditional Tight End
The labels of big wide receiver and hybrid player have followed Pitts since he entered the league. Many were skeptical of his ability to function as an in-line tight end. It got to the point where Arthur Smith primarily utilized him in the slot or out wide in his final season as head coach. It’s taken time, but the dynamic tight end is being used more in-line than out wide or in the slot. Pitts has played 63 snaps as an in-line tight end compared to 40 snaps in the slot and 36 snaps out wide per Pro Football Focus.
This is notable progress for a player who needs to be utilized in a variety of ways and make the offense less predictable with their personnel and formation usage. It’s no secret that the Falcons have been questioned for their predictability offensively. From being heavily reliant on 11 personnel to their usage of pistol and shotgun formations, Zac Robinson’s offense isn’t schematically making defenses off balance enough.
What the under-fire offense coordinator is doing with one of his top playmakers is making him more involved and not making it easy for defenses to identify when he calls a pass or run. They can run the ball if Pitts is the lone tight end in 11 personnel or pass it if Charlie Woerner is in a similar role. That comes with the former Gator showing more urgency as a blocker. He is using his hands better and maintaining his positioning against edge defenders. After getting driven back by Haason Reddick on a failed 4th down run in Week 1, there haven’t been any glaring miscues from him as a run blocker. He is also providing quality chip blocks on passing plays, which has greatly helped Elijah Wilkinson get comfortable in his new role.
The confidence in using Pitts more as an in-line player paid off massively against Washington. On 1st and goal at the seven-yard line, Drake London motions from being out wide on the right near Pitts. He runs a quick bending route that forces Trey Amos to turn his back to track him into the end zone. As London accelerates, Pitts leaks out into the flat after initially blocking Jacob Martin. There is no defender in sight of him as Penix Jr. is running play action out of the pistol. It’s an excellent play design by Robinson to not only scheme up a touchdown in the red zone, but to use Pitts like a traditional tight end to create a highly effective red zone play. Doing this allows the coaching staff to expand the playbook and feature one of their main playmakers who can be productive beyond lining up out wide and in the slot.
Added aggression with explosiveness
Although he doesn’t have a reception over 26 yards, there have been several eye-opening plays made by Pitts this season. His first reception against Tampa Bay came off motioning to the right into the flat. The vicious stiff arm he put on SirVocea Dennis turned a standard five-yard completion into an impressive 12-yard gain. That set the tone going into a primetime showdown against Minnesota, who possess one of the most chaotic, punishing defenses in the league. With Robinson opting to use more 12 personnel for this particular matchup, Pitts was going to get more opportunities to shine. He delivered two standout moments.
Isolated on the outside against Josh Metellus, Pitts immediately shook him with a nasty release to get open for a 14-yard catch. Seeing Pitts create separation instantly against a safety pressing him had to be uplifting for the coaching staff. On the next drive, he ran a comeback route on Isaiah Rodgers. How he fights through contact and high-points the ball after creating separation was another tone-setting play that gave the Falcons offense confidence they can put together scoring drives in a hostile environment.
The theme with those three catches is Pitts playing with more ferocity. There is more urgency in his routes and how he is battling through contact to make plays. Even in his prolific rookie season, Pitts struggled to make contested catches. It’s a flaw in his game despite having a big athletic frame.
He is starting to make strides in taking on the hand fighting that comes with being in isolated matchups and winning at the catch point. On a pivotal 22-yard reception on third down to help the Falcons secure the win against Washington, Quan Martin got too aggressive trying to disrupt his route and committed defensive pass interference. That didn’t stop Pitts from making the catch on a precise throw from Penix Jr.
With nearly every wide receiver on the roster getting injured at some point this season, the once-embattled tight end has been the team’s most reliable pass catcher. More explosive plays downfield are bound to happen as Penix Jr. grows as a quarterback. There were missed opportunities against Carolina, as the second-year quarterback was rattled in the pocket and didn’t see Pitts wide open down the seam for what would have been a 30-yard touchdown. Although that game was infuriating, there is a clear intent to get a rejuvenated, dynamic playmaker the ball after multiple unsteady seasons.
Pitts has done his part in being more aggressive with his route-running and explosiveness after the catch. There is more attention to detail in his game. After dropping four passes last season, Pitts hasn’t dropped any passes so far. The lapses in concentration are no longer hindering his ability to put himself in a position to be productive. With an ultra-talented quarterback, who stated there’s going to be a lot of him getting the ball this summer, and being more assertive as an all-around tight end, the stars are aligning for one of the league’s biggest enigmas. The mystery hanging over him for the past two seasons will no longer be there if he continues playing like one of the best tight ends in the league.