Kyle Pitts breaks all TE rookie records

[InstiGATOR1]

Three more games to go... including Detroit.
He'll crush it

Better yet will be passing it in 16 or under games.

 

[Born2beagator]

Too bad he got stuck on the falcons

 

[Gatordiddy]

Pro Bowl in his first year…

 

[RiverRat]

 

[CGgater]

View attachment 38640

Why does that say “franchise history?” I thought that was the nfl rookie record?

 

[MJMGator]

Why does that say “franchise history?” I thought that was the nfl rookie record?

Modern era…not all time.

 

[MJMGator]

That’s hard to fathom when you consider they had Alge Crumpler and Tony Gonzalez.

 

[RiverRat]

Why does that say “franchise history?” I thought that was the nfl rookie record?

Not sure pulled it off UF web site

 

[RiverRat]

That’s hard to fathom when you consider they had Alge Crumpler and Tony Gonzalez.

Yeah Gonzalez was the man
The same post also has pits as the second leading rookie tight end of all time trailing only Dinka
Of course Ditka and Gonzalez played less games but Pitts is still showing his skills

 

[Joegator96]

Ditka's record is really hard to believe considering how the game was played in the 60's vs the current game.

Mike Ditka's rookie record is in danger of being broken by Kyle Pitts

Whether Pitts breaks the record or not, Ditka will still remain the only rookie tight end in NFL history to break 1,000 receiving yards in a 14-game season. Considering how the NFL was a run-heavy league back in 1961 makes Ditka’s record even more impressive.

Ditka had 12 of the Bears’ 26 receiving touchdowns in 1961. He also had 1,076 of their 3,011 receiving yards. Pitts has just one of the Falcons’ 18 receiving touchdowns, along with 847 of their 3,359 receiving yards.

 

[78]

Ditka's record is really hard to believe considering how the game was played in the 60's vs the current game.

Mike Ditka's rookie record is in danger of being broken by Kyle Pitts

Whether Pitts breaks the record or not, Ditka will still remain the only rookie tight end in NFL history to break 1,000 receiving yards in a 14-game season. Considering how the NFL was a run-heavy league back in 1961 makes Ditka’s record even more impressive.

Ditka had 12 of the Bears’ 26 receiving touchdowns in 1961. He also had 1,076 of their 3,011 receiving yards. Pitts has just one of the Falcons’ 18 receiving touchdowns, along with 847 of their 3,359 receiving yards.

He also demolished this stick of gum.

 

[CGgater]

Ditka's record is really hard to believe considering how the game was played in the 60's vs the current game.

Mike Ditka's rookie record is in danger of being broken by Kyle Pitts

Whether Pitts breaks the record or not, Ditka will still remain the only rookie tight end in NFL history to break 1,000 receiving yards in a 14-game season. Considering how the NFL was a run-heavy league back in 1961 makes Ditka’s record even more impressive.

Ditka had 12 of the Bears’ 26 receiving touchdowns in 1961. He also had 1,076 of their 3,011 receiving yards. Pitts has just one of the Falcons’ 18 receiving touchdowns, along with 847 of their 3,359 receiving yards.

Too young to see Ditka play, but I’m gonna guess he was a better matchup talent wise against the LBs compared to the Bears WRs vs the secondary, so the QB favored his TE more than was the norm in those days. Dude is definitely a legend and worthy of every reverent joke in those classic “Da Bearsss” SNL skits.

 

[78]

Too young to see Ditka play, but I’m gonna guess he was a better matchup talent wise against the LBs compared to the Bears WRs vs the secondary, so the QB favored his TE more than was the norm in those days. Dude is definitely a legend and worthy of every reverent joke in those classic “Da Bearsss” SNL skits.

Ditka spent time at wide receiver in college. He wasn’t particularly agile but then neither were any of the linebackers of his time. He had good hands. He came to the right team at the right time. The early ‘60s Bears lived and died by the run, so when they threw the ball it was usually to set up more running.

He was the first tight end to be used as a primary pass catcher and he dragged more than a few would-be tacklers along with him.

 

[Joegator96]

Ditka spent time at wide receiver in college. He wasn’t particularly agile but then neither were any of the linebackers of his time. He had good hands. He came to the right team at the right time. The early ‘60s Bears lived and died by the run, so when they threw the ball it was usually to set up more running.

He was the first tight end to be used as a primary pass catcher and he dragged more than a few would-be tacklers along with him.

Ditka and John Mackey of the Colts and Jerry Smith of the Cardinals were the only true receiver TE's during that era. Ditka was the only one who played with a very average QB. It was certainly a different game then.

 

[78]

Ditka and John Mackey of the Colts and Jerry Smith of the Cardinals were the only true receiver TE's during that era. Ditka was the only one who played with a very average QB. It was certainly a different game then.

Mackay took what Ditka did and added to it. He was for many years the NFL prototype. Were you maybe thinking of Jackie Smith, who infamously dropped the end zone pass that would have given Dallas the ‘80 Super Bowl? I felt bad for the guy. He was so good for so long and yet became framed for one unfortunately play, the Bill Buckner of the NFL.

 

[Joegator96]

Mackay took what Ditka did and added to it. He was for many years the NFL prototype. Were you maybe thinking of Jackie Smith, who infamously dropped the end zone pass that would have given Dallas the ‘80 Super Bowl? I felt bad for the guy. He was so good for so long and yet became framed for one unfortunately play, the Bill Buckner of the NFL.

yes, Jackie Smith

 

[Gator By Marriage]

yes, Jackie Smith

Jerry Smith played TE for the Redskins and while he came along a couple of years after the guys you mentioned, he was a helluva receiver. Pretty sure that when he retired he held the then record for career TDs by a TE.

 

[NVAGATOR86]

Jackie Smith was a great receiving tight end who unfortunately spent most of his time on mostly bad Cardinal teams. Being a huge Steeler fan I remember well his drop in SB XIII in 79. He became the scapegoat for his drop which was wrong. There were plenty of other plays that contributed to the loss.
Speaking of great TE's, my time in SFL allowed me to develop a friendship with Jim Mandich. He told me a story about how the Steelers were looking for a back up tight end after Bennie Cunningham got hurt. The Fins had traded Jim to the Redskins but he didn't play much. The Skins let the Steelers know that he was available. It was either him or Smith and the Steelers took Jim. He got a Super Bowl ring and Jackie got the blame for the loss. All about the thin line between winning and losing.

 

[stephenPE]

Dave Casper?

 

[Lake Gator]

Dave Casper?

All-Pro tight ends for the Lions: Charlie Sanders and Jim Gibbons.