Eighty-eight receptions and five touchdowns in 2025. Those career-best numbers defined Kyle Pitts’ resurgence and set the stage for his new contract with the Atlanta Falcons. The 25-year-old tight end, fresh off his most productive season since his rookie year, signed a three-year, $54 million extension after initially receiving the franchise tag in March.
Pitts’ 88 catches in 2025 topped all his previous seasons. His five touchdowns also marked a personal best. Only his rookie total of 1,026 receiving yards in 2021 eclipsed the 928 he posted this year. That production earned Pitts second-team All-Pro honors and made him a cornerstone in the Falcons’ long-term plans.
| Season | Receptions | Yards | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 68 | 1,026 | * |
| 2025 | 88 | 928 | 5 |
General manager Ian Cunningham pointed to Pitts’ steady development as a driving force behind the deal. “Kyle has earned this opportunity through the consistency he’s shown every day and the growth he’s made both on and off the field,” Cunningham said in a team statement. “When we approach any contract decision, we’re always looking at the broader NFL landscape. How the market is evolving, where it’s headed, and how that aligns with our long-term roster strategy. That process-driven approach allows us to reward our own players while maintaining flexibility moving forward. We’re excited about the player Kyle is today and even more about the trajectory he’s on.”
Originally. Pitts was set to play the 2026 season under the one-year, $15.045 million franchise tag after five years in Atlanta. But after negotiations between the Falcons and Pitts’ representation, led by David Mulugheta and Athletes First, both sides found common ground on a longer-term extension.
For Pitts, the franchise tag felt like a one-year audition. “It was more so, ‘OK, that was my opportunity that Atlanta picked it back up to give me another year to showcase,’ and then it was just time to squeeze the rag and just grind. I was fortunate I got the call and the interest in the long term, and when it happened, it was pretty great,” he said.
Drafted fourth overall in 2021 and burdened with the label of generational talent. Pitts has faced his share of scrutiny. Consistency eluded him at times. Now, at 25 and coming off a breakout 2025, both Pitts and the Falcons see a higher ceiling ahead. “I think there’s a lot more out there, a lot more to get, and a lot more things to keep grinding towards. It’s cool to see,” Pitts said. He’s adamant: his best football is still to come.
Cunningham made it clear the Falcons want to keep their homegrown stars. “We’ll continue to work towards drafting, developing, and retaining our own, and Kyle is a great example of that.”
With Pitts’ future secured, attention in Atlanta is expected to turn to running back Bijan Robinson for a potential new deal. The front office remains committed to its strategy: reward performance, develop from within, and keep the roster flexible.
Pitts’ breakout and new contract now anchor the Falcons’ vision for the future. Both sides are betting on even bigger things ahead.
