The Atlanta Falcons will open the 2025 NFL season with an NFC South clash against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which is a game that will mean more to some players compared to others. For Falcons starting tight end Kyle Pitts, the season opener could be his chance to change the narrative surrounding his career with a breakout performance.
Many in the Falcons sphere wonder if the promise shown during Pitts' impressive rookie season in 2021 would ever return. Following being taken with the fourth overall pick out of the University of Florida, Pitts wowed Falcons fans with 68 receptions for 1026 yards, earning the young star a Pro-Bowl selection, the only selection of his young career thus far.
However, in the three seasons since that stellar rookie campaign, Pitts has underperformed in the eyes of many critics, making him subject to numerous trade rumors and speculation. In 15 starts last season, the ex-Gator only had 47 receptions for 602 yards and four touchdowns.
Falcons TE Kyle Pitts Could Flip Narrative in Week 1
All this narrative can change for Pitts in Week 1, where he and quarterback Michael Penix have an opportunity to put on a show against a Tampa Bay defense that the fifth-year TE has succeeded against before.
Pitts has tallied 26 receptions for 404 yards and three touchdowns in six career meetings with the Bucs. Impressively, that includes a 14-236-3 stat line in the last three encounters alone. A similar effort in Week 1 could have fans believing in him again.
Coming off a strong preseason, Pitts and his young quarterback have had a chance to gain chemistry with a full training camp worth of first-team reps, as well as off-field activities together. The dynamic duo's connection will be vital to the Falcons' potential success in their second season under head coach Raheem Morris and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson.
A narrative-altering performance is also crucial for Pitts' financial future. He' scheduled to make over $10.8 million in the final year of his rookie deal this season. If he is looking to cash in with a big offseason deal, whether that be for the Falcons or another team, he must prove to the NFL that his 2021 performance wasn't an anomaly.
Eyes will be on Pitts entering this pivotal season, with some optimistic Falcons fans already pegging him as a bounce-back player to watch. It remains to be seen how big an impact Pitts will have this season, emphasizing why he must set the tone in Week 1.