From Julio Jones to Roddy White to Tony Gonzalez, the Falcons have had a lot of great playmakers this century. Fans were hoping to add tight end Kyle Pitts to that list; however, his NFL career has been more ups and downs than fans expected.
Nonetheless, former Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot brought up several reasons why Pitts will still be a great piece for this Falcons team after the franchise tagged him.
Former GM Terry Fontenot Comments on Falcons’ Decision To Tag Kyle Pitts
While it is easy to see Pitts’s product on the field, it is harder to see it off the field, as fans have less access to that kind of behind-the-scenes look. Fontenot raved about Pitts’s character.
“I love Kyle. He’s a special player… he had a really good rookie year than dealt with some adversity.. but he stayed resilient and a lot of people don’t realize how much he competed and how much he dealt with and kept fighting through it,” Fontenot stated.
What really stood out in Fontenot’s remarks is Pitts’s resilience. Being resilient is one of the best factors that an NFL player can have, with a recent example being Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold.
Fontenot also highlighted Pitts’ experience in the league despite him being only 25.
After being drafted in the fourth round by the Falcons in the 2021 NFL Draft, Pitts has already shown many great flashes, recording 284 receptions for 3579 yards and 15 touchdowns. He was ranked eighth in PFSN’s Tight End Impact metrics for the 2025 season, with an impact score of 82.7 (B-).
Only 2 years older than Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers, Pitts has 3 years of experience on Bowers. Pitts is still younger than Cardinals’ Trey McBride (26) and is the same age as Ravens tight end Isiah Likely, who was drafted in 2022.
Pitts Outlook for Next Season
Things look great for Pitts next year if he stays with the team on the tag. There have been many times before in the NFL when a team has tagged and traded a player. However, if Pitts does stay in Atlanta, things could look great for him.
The Falcons hired former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski. During his time in Cleveland, Stefanski got productive play from his tight ends, with one example being rookie Harold Fannin Jr., who had a great season, ranking 23rd in PFSN’s TE Metrics.
Another reason Pitts could have a great season is that he is one of many great playmakers in Atlanta. Drake London has really come onto the scene as of late, and after a great 2025, many consider him one of the best wide receivers in the league. Bijan Robinson also had a superstar-making season.
So with defenses focused on London and Robinson, Pitts could see a lot more production.
Overall, even though things have been inconsistent to this point with Pitts, there are still many signs pointing to a positive NFL career.
