Story by
Kyle Pitts on what he's learned from Falcons vet Austin Hooper
- Story by
- Kyle Pitts on what he's learned from Falcons vet Austin Hooper
The Atlanta Falcons don't seem too eager to share exactly what it is that President of Football Matt Ryan does when he isn't helping out on the practice field . That said, it's not too difficult to see the hand of Ryan influencing some of the team's offseason moves.
Two signings stand out above the others, as the Falcons brought back two pass-catchers who previously played with Ryan: wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus and tight end Austin Hooper .
Advertisement
If nothing else, the two bring a lot of experience to a relatively young core of Atlanta skill players. That includes Kyle Pitts , who has been impressed by Hooper's experience and football IQ, per team reporter Tori McElhaney .
Falcons TE Kyle Pitts on Austin Hooper
"Actually a lot. You know he went to Stanford? So, he's gifted. Hoop is going on Year 11 so that tells you a lot that he's been able to sustain and play at a high level going on 11 years now. He is very mentally sharp. So, it's cool to hear about some things about how I can think quicker on the field and see things quicker that will allow me to play faster."
Pitts is entering what he calls his "sixth-year option" as he's set to play out the 2026 season under the franchise tag - that is if his agent and the organization can't hammer out a new deal between now and July 15.
Despite being near the end of his NFL journey, Hooper still has some value and enters 2026 as the second tight end on the depth chart beneath Pitts. Last year with the New England Patriots he put up 21 catches, 263 yards and two touchdowns as the Patriots made it all the way to the Super Bowl before getting blown out by Seattle .
Advertisement
Hooper peaked back in 2019 with 787 receiving yards, six touchdowns and his second-straight Pro Bowl appearance. The Falcons don't need him to produce like he did back in the day with Ryan, though. Hooper's biggest contribution at this point may be helping Pitts take that next step.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Atlanta Falcons: Kyle Pitts learning from vet Austin Hooper
