ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons agreed to a three-year, $54 million contract extension with tight end Kyle Pitts on June 23, 2026. The deal includes $36 million in fully guaranteed money, setting a record for guarantees at the position. The contract has an average annual value of $18 million, making Pitts the third-highest-paid tight end in the NFL. The $36 million in full guarantees surpasses the prior record held by George Kittle by $1 million and represents the largest three-year contract for a tight end in league history.

Pitts played in 17 games for the Falcons during the 2025 season, recording 88 receptions for 928 yards and five touchdowns on 118 targets. His 88 receptions ranked 10th among all NFL players, while his 928 receiving yards led all Atlanta pass catchers. Pitts ranked second among NFL tight ends in both receptions and receiving yards in 2025. In Week 15 of that season, he caught 10 passes for 165 yards and three touchdowns in a 29-28 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on December 11, 2025. Pitts earned Second Team All-Pro honors for the 2025 campaign.

Selected fourth overall by Atlanta in the 2021 NFL Draft, Pitts recorded 1,026 receiving yards in his rookie season, becoming the first rookie tight end to exceed 1,000 yards since Mike Ditka in 1961. He made the Pro Bowl following that season. Pitts played in every game for the Falcons in 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025, but participated in only 10 games in 2022. He failed to reach 700 receiving yards in the 2022, 2023, and 2024 seasons. Through 78 career games, Pitts has started 72, accumulating 3,579 receiving yards, 284 receptions, and 15 touchdowns. His career receiving yards rank fourth among tight ends since 2021, behind George Kittle, Travis Kelce, and Mark Andrews.

The Falcons had placed Pitts on the franchise tag earlier in the 2026 offseason with a value of $15,045,000. Athletes First announced the contract agreement on social media. Other tight ends with higher average annual values include San Francisco's George Kittle at $19.1 million and Arizona's Trey McBride at $19 million. The Falcons begin their 2026 season on September 13 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.