Falcons' Kyle Pitts Makes NFL History With Huge Contract Extension

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts was hyped as a franchise-altering star when the Falcons made him the fourth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

The Florida alum recorded a 1,000-yard receiving season as rookie, but he had an up-and-down from 2022 to 2024 - showing flashes but struggling to consistently produce.

Pitts entered last season knowing it was a make-or-break contract year, and he went off for 928 yards and five touchdowns on 88 receptions across 17 regular-season games. He ensured that he’d get paid by someone this offseason, and the Falcons didn’t let him walk out the door.

“Kyle Pitts and the Atlanta Falcons reached agreement today on a three-year, $54 million contract that includes $36 million fully guaranteed,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter posted on X on Tuesday. “It is the largest three-year contract for a tight end in NFL history.”

NFL senior researcher Tony Holzman-Escareno relayed that Pitts ranked first among all tight ends in receiving yards in man coverage, second in targets (118), second in receptions, second in receiving yards, second in receptions of 20-plus yards, and fourth in yards after catch.

Pitts’ deal comes less than a month after the Falcons signed wide receiver Drake London to a reported four-year, $141 million contract extension, including $100 million guaranteed. All-Pro running back Bijan Robinson is also due for an extension, and that contract is projected to blow London’s and Pitts’ out of the water.

The narrative is the same in Atlanta this offseason as it has been the past few years: the Falcons have explosive offensive weapons, but can the quarterback maximize them?

This year, there’s another question: who will be the starting quarterback in Week 1?

Michael Penix Jr., the Falcons’ No. 8 pick in 2024, is recovering from his November ACL reconstruction surgery, and the Falcons signed Tua Tagovailoa to a one-year contract following his release from the Miami Dolphins in March.

“Tagovailoa has been able to do everything, and [head coach Kevin] Stefanski is on record saying he believes accuracy is the most important trait for a quarterback, something Tagovailoa historically has had in abundance,” ESPN’s Marc Raimondi reported from Falcons minicamp. “None of this means Tagovailoa will for sure win the job, especially if Penix impresses in training camp. But Tagovailoa might have something of a head start in this new offense.”

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This story was originally published June 23, 2026 at 8:26 PM.