Kyle Pitts finally looks like Florida’s Kyle Pitts again in breakout game

Since getting drafted 4th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, Kyle Pitts has had a roller coaster of an NFL experience. The Gator great had over 1,000 yards receiving in his rookie campaign, only for three straight years of relatively mid to poor play for the Falcons.

But on Thursday night against the Buccaneers, Pitts looked like the player that Florida fans best remember him as.

Kyle Pitts scores three touchdowns to lead Atlanta

Coming into Thursday’s contest, Pitts hadn’t had a 100-yard receiving game since his rookie campaign in 2021. And even though Pitts was having a decent enough 2025 campaign, he had only caught one TD entering Raymond James Stadium.

But Pitts clearly found a consistent soft spot in the Tampa Bay defense as he erupted for 11 catches off 12 targets for 166 yards and three touchdowns. His highlight reel grab was his third touchdown of the night when he managed to get his rear end inbounds just a nanosecond before his elbow hit out of bounds.

He also became the first tight end since 1996 to have at least 150 yards receiving and three touchdowns in a single game.

Despite Atlanta being knocked out of the playoffs last week, Pitts was able to help lead the Falcons to a walk-off field goal win over the Buccaneers.

For Pitts, it’s now his third straight week of at least 80 yards receiving, and he has morphed back into one of Kirk Cousins most trusted targets since Cousins was thrown back into action.

During his time at Florida, Pitts was part of the famed Kyle-to-Kyle connection with then QB Kyle Trask, who, coincidentally enough, is now on the practice squad with Atlanta. Pitts had 649 yards receiving in 2019 before a dominant 2020 campaign that saw him haul in 12 TDs off 770 yards receiving in just eight games played that season. He was a consensus All-American in 2020 and even received some votes for the Heisman that year.

That season led to Atlanta drafting him 4th overall, and at least for one night, he flashed what made him that pick in the first place.