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Dennis Pitta

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Dennis Pitta
refer to caption
Pitta with the Baltimore Ravens in 2011
No. 88
Position:Tight end
Personal information
Born: (1985-06-29) June 29, 1985 (age 39)
Fresno, California, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:238 lb (108 kg)
Career information
High school:Moorpark (Moorpark, California)
College:BYU (2003–2004, 2007–2009)
NFL draft:2010 / round: 4 / pick: 114
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:224
Receiving yards:2,098
Receiving touchdowns:13
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Dennis Gregory Pitta Jr. (born June 29, 1985) is an American former professional football player who was a tight end for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the BYU Cougars, earning consensus All-American honors in 2009. He was selected by the Ravens in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL draft. After two strong seasons in the National Football League (NFL), Pitta suffered a hip injury in 2013 and played only occasionally until 2016, when he set a career high in receiving yards. A further injury in 2017 ended his career.

Early life

[edit]

Pitta was born in Fresno, California to parents Dennis and Linda Pitta.[1][2] His father played college football as a middle linebacker for California from 1968 to 1969. Pitta attended Moorpark High School in Moorpark, California, where he earned letters in football, basketball, and track. He is an Eagle Scout.[3] He played football as a wide receiver and cornerback,[4] and his large size made him difficult to cover.[5] As a senior in 2002, Pitta recorded 64 receptions for 1,150 yards and 13 touchdowns. That season, he was named a first-team all-county, all-league, and all-area player.[4] He was a scholar-athlete all four years in high school and was also named a National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete. Pitta was shown interest by Dartmouth, Navy, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Utah, and Yale,[4] but no Division I school offered him a scholarship.[6]

College career

[edit]

Pitta chose to attend Brigham Young University, where he walked onto the BYU Cougars football team as a wide receiver. Pitta was moved to tight end by head coach Gary Crowton, where he soon earned a scholarship.[6] He sat out the 2003 season on "grayshirt" status.[4] In 2004, he saw significant playing time as a result of an injury to starter Daniel Coats.[7] Pitta recorded 17 receptions for 176 yards and two touchdowns,[4] and actually finished the season with more receptions than Coats.[7] Both of his scores came in the game against Air Force,[4] where he also blocked a punt upon which BYU capitalized for a score.[6]

Pitta is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Pitta served a mission for the church in the Dominican Republic,[4] which caused a two-year hiatus in his college football career.[7][8] He returned to BYU for the 2007 season, and recorded 59 receptions for 813 yards and five touchdowns.[9] He finished the season as the nation's fifth-leading tight end in yards per game at 63. Pitta was named to the All-Mountain West Conference (MWC) first-team, and he also received Academic All-MWC honors.[4]

In 2008, he recorded 83 receptions for 1,083 yards and six touchdowns.[10] Against Northern Iowa, he compiled 213 yards, which broke the conference receiving yards record for a tight end and earned him the John Mackey Tight End of the Week honors. Against Colorado State, he caught the game-winning 17-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Max Hall, and was named the John Mackey Tight End of the Week and a MWC Co-Offensive Player of the Week. Pitta finished the season as the team's second-leading receiver. He was a Lombardi Award and Biletnikoff Award candidate, and a Mackey Award semifinalist.[11] Pitta was named to the All-MWC first-team, and again received Academic All-MWC honors. College Football News and Sports Illustrated named him an honorable mention All-American, and Rivals.com named him to its All-America third-team.[4]

Prior to the 2009 season, The NFL Draft Scout, a CBS Sports affiliate, rated Pitta as the sixth-ranked out of 92 tight ends available for the 2010 NFL draft. They project him as being selected in the third or fourth round.[12] Phil Steele's assessed him as the fourth-ranked draft-eligible tight end and placed him on its preseason All-America fourth team.[13] He finished the 2009 season with 62 receptions for 829 yards and eight touchdowns.[14]

He was one of three finalists for the Mackey Award.[15] He was named to the 2009 All-MWC first-team and the 2009 AFCA Coaches' All-America team.[16][17]

Dennis Pitta, Reception Records in BYU Cougars football History[18]

Category Number BYU Rank, All Time Notes
Career receptions 221[18] 1st Passed Austin Collie (215) in 2009
Career receiving yards 2,883 3rd 1st for TEs[19]
Season receiving yards 1,083 8th 1st for TEs
Career receiving touchdowns 21 6th (tied with Mike Chronister) 2nd for TEs behind Gordon Hudson (22)

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press Wonderlic
6 ft 4 1⁄2 in
(1.94 m) 		245 lb
(111 kg) 		32 1⁄4 in
(0.82 m) 		10 in
(0.25 m)		 4.62 s 1.64 s 2.76 s 4.17 s 6.72 s 34 in
(0.86 m)		 9 ft 5 in
(2.87 m)		 27 reps 29[20]
All values from NFL Combine[21][22]

Pitta was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round (114th overall) of the 2010 NFL draft.[23][24] The pick was one of three that the Ravens acquired in a trade with the Denver Broncos on the first night of the draft on April 22. The Broncos received a first-round pick which was used to select Tim Tebow.[25] Pitta was signed to a three-year contract on June 21, 2010.[26]

2010

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Pitta recorded his first career reception for one yard in Week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals. The reception was his only catch of the game and the 2010 season. He appeared in 11 games as a rookie.[27]

2011

[edit]

Pitta improved greatly in the 2011 season, becoming a common target for quarterback Joe Flacco and contributing to a dangerous tight end tandem alongside starter Ed Dickson. He did not, however, score a touchdown until a Week 12 Thanksgiving Day matchup with the San Francisco 49ers. Pitta scored the game's only touchdown off of an eight-yard catch, as the Ravens won 16–6.[28]

Pitta scored his second touchdown of the season two weeks later in a game against the Indianapolis Colts. In the Ravens' season finale, he was the team's leading receiver with six catches, a then-career-high 62 yards and his third career touchdown. Pitta finished the year with 40 catches, 405 yards and three touchdowns.[29]

Pitta played a steady role in the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots, catching five passes for 41 yards, including the Ravens' first touchdown of the game.[30] However, Baltimore's season would come to an end here, after receiver Lee Evans dropped a game-winning touchdown and kicker Billy Cundiff missed a short, game-tying field goal that would have sent the game to overtime.[31]

2012

[edit]

During Week 15, in a game versus the AFC-leading Denver Broncos, Pitta caught a short pass from Flacco and broke three tackles to complete a 61-yard touchdown towards the end of the game. Pitta finished the game with seven catches for 125 yards and two scores, but the Ravens were still defeated 34–17.[32]

In the 2012 season, Pitta appeared in 16 games and made five starts. He recorded 61 passes for 669 yards and seven touchdowns.[33]

In the 2013 playoffs, against the Indianapolis Colts in the Wild Card Round, he caught two passes for 27 yards and a 20-yard touchdown.[34] In both the Divisional round against the Broncos and the AFC Championship against the Patriots, Pitta had 55 yards apiece, scoring a touchdown in the latter.[35][36] In Super Bowl XLVII, despite starting the game behind Ed Dickson, Pitta caught four balls for 26 yards and a touchdown to help lead the Ravens to a 34–31 victory over the 49ers.[37] He finished the playoffs with 14 catches, 163 yards and three touchdowns. He was ranked 100th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2013.[38]

2013

[edit]

On May 13, 2013, the Ravens announced that Pitta signed his second round restricted free agent tender worth $2.023 million.[39]

On July 27, 2013, Pitta suffered a dislocated and fractured hip during training camp and underwent surgery the same night. Pitta was not immediately placed on injured reserve and examinations of the hip revealed no ligament or cartilage damage, but he was still expected to miss the entire season.[40]

In Week 14 of the 2013 season, Pitta returned to on field action for first time since Super Bowl XLVII. In his return, he recorded a receiving touchdown in a 29–26 win against the Minnesota Vikings.[41] In the 2013 season, he appeared in four games and recorded 20 receptions for 169 yards and a touchdown.[42]

2014

[edit]

On February 28, 2014, the Baltimore Ravens and Pitta agreed to a five-year $32 million contract.[43] In the regular season opener against the Bengals, he had ten receptions in the game for 83 yards in the loss. The ten receptions marked a career high for Pitta at the time[44]

During a game against the Cleveland Browns on September 21, 2014, Pitta left the game with a hip injury. It was revealed that his right hip was dislocated again. He underwent surgery on the same hip the next day and it prematurely ended his 2014 season after three games.[45][46]

2015

[edit]

On September 1, 2015, Pitta was placed on the PUP list.[47] On November 11, 2015, the Ravens reported that doctors informed Pitta that it was not safe for him to continue his career. Pitta was placed on season ending injured reserve later that day, but he stated that he had not yet elected to retire from the NFL.[48]

2016

[edit]

In 2016, Pitta announced that he was going to return to football whenever he was cleared to play.[49] He resumed full practice in early September.[50] He played in the season opening game on September 11, 2016, in Baltimore against the Buffalo Bills in the 13–7 win.[51] In Week 2 against the Cleveland Browns, Pitta had a game-high nine catches for 102 yards, the second 100-yard game of his career in the 25–20 victory.[52] On Pitta's return, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco said, "If he was coming back, I knew he would be productive. Last year, when he came back for a couple of weeks of practice and they decided to not have him play, he looked good. He looked like himself. I think he's going to get more and more comfortable as the year goes on. We just have to keep him healthy."[53] On December 4 against the Miami Dolphins, Pitta scored in a game for the first time since Week 14 of the 2013 season. Pitta finished the game with 9 catches for 90 yards and two touchdown receptions in the 38–6 victory.[54] In Week 17, Pitta had a career-high 11 receptions for 91 yards in the loss to the Bengals.[55] Pitta had statistically his best season, recording a career-high 86 receptions, most in the league by a tight end, and a career-high 729 yards, although he only caught two touchdown passes.[56] Pitta also recorded his first career fumble during the game against Miami.[57]

2017

[edit]

On June 2, 2017, Pitta suffered another hip injury during organized team activities on a non-contact play. It was later determine that he dislocated his hip for a third time.[58][59] On June 7, Pitta was released by the Ravens.[60]

He agreed to do color commentary on Ravens radio broadcasts for the first four games of the season, joining three other fellow Ravens alumni in the rotation.[61]

NFL career statistics

[edit]
Year Team Games Receiving Fumbles
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2010 BAL 11 0 1 1 1.0 1 0 0 0
2011 BAL 16 2 40 405 10.1 39 3 0 0
2012 BAL 16 5 61 669 11.0 61 7 0 0
2013 BAL 4 1 20 125 7.8 24 1 0 0
2014 BAL 3 3 16 169 8.4 18 0 0 0
2015 BAL 0 0 did not play due to injury
2016 BAL 16 12 86 729 8.5 30 2 1 1
Total 66 23 224 2,098 9.4 61 13 1 1

Personal life

[edit]

Pitta is married to Mataya Gissel, whom he met while attending BYU.[62] They have three children together, including a set of twins and his oldest son Decker. He is also brothers-in-law with former Arizona Cardinals' Max Hall, who is married to Gissel's sister, Mckinzi Hall.[63]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Harmon, Dick (February 3, 2013). "Father witnesses rise of his son as Dennis Pitta has breakout year". Deseret News. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  2. ^ "Pitta eager to catch on as a pro". Ventura County Star. April 22, 2010. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  3. ^ Rosen, Jill (August 16, 2012). "Famous Baltimore-area Eagle Scouts". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Dennis Pitta - Football 2009". BYU Cougars Athletics. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  5. ^ PITTA PRESENTS A TALL ORDER, Daily News of Los Angeles, October 7, 2002.
  6. ^ a b c Call, Jeff (October 27, 2004). "Cougar adjusts to new position". Deseret News. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013.
  7. ^ a b c Harmon, Dick (June 17, 2007). "Pitta keeps tradition alive". Deseret News. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013.
  8. ^ Harmon, Dick (October 26, 2004). "Filling the gaps". Deseret News. Archived from the original on July 31, 2012.
  9. ^ "Dennis Pitta 2007 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  10. ^ "Dennis Pitta 2008 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  11. ^ "Pitta Named John Mackey Award Semifinalist". BYU Cougars Athletics. November 17, 2008. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  12. ^ Dennis Pitta, The NFL Draft Scout, retrieved August 1, 2009.
  13. ^ Phil Steele's 2009 College Football Preview, vol. 15, p. 5, 2009.
  14. ^ "Dennis Pitta 2009 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  15. ^ Call, Jeff (December 10, 2009). "BYU football: Dennis Pitta among finalists for Mackey Award". Deseret News. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  16. ^ Mauss, Jeremy (December 1, 2009). "2009 Mountain West All-Conference Football Team Announced". Mountain West Connection. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  17. ^ "Consensus All-America Teams (2000-2009)". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  18. ^ a b [1][dead link‍]
  19. ^ "Career Receiving Yards". Cougar Stats. Archived from the original on July 6, 2009. Retrieved December 22, 2009.
  20. ^ McGinn, Bob (April 17, 2009). "Rating the NFL draft prospects: Wide receivers, tight ends". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  21. ^ "Dennis Pitta Draft and Combine Prospect Profile", NFL.com, retrieved February 27, 2010
  22. ^ "Dennis Pitta, Brigham Young, TE, 2010 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  23. ^ "2010 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  24. ^ "All-Time Draft Choices – Baltimore Ravens". Archived from the original on March 20, 2011. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  25. ^ "Ravens trade 25th overall pick to Denver Broncos". The Denver Post. Associated Press. April 22, 2010. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  26. ^ Hensley, Jamison (June 21, 2010). "Fourth-round TE Dennis Pitta reaches three-year agreement". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on June 25, 2010. Retrieved June 21, 2010.
  27. ^ "Dennis Pitta 2010 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
  28. ^ "San Francisco 49ers at Baltimore Ravens - November 24th, 2011". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  29. ^ "Dennis Pitta 2011 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  30. ^ "AFC Championship - Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots - January 22nd, 2012". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  31. ^ "PATS SURVIVE RAVENS AFC CHAMPIONSHIP: Billy Cundiff misses a 32-yard field goal at the end to tie". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. January 23, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  32. ^ "Denver Broncos at Baltimore Ravens - December 16th, 2012". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  33. ^ "Dennis Pitta 2012 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  34. ^ "Wild Card - Indianapolis Colts at Baltimore Ravens - January 6th, 2013". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  35. ^ "Divisional Round - Baltimore Ravens at Denver Broncos - January 12th, 2013". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  36. ^ "AFC Championship - Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots - January 20th, 2013". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  37. ^ "Super Bowl XLVII – San Francisco 49ers vs. Baltimore Ravens – February 3rd, 2013". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
  38. ^ "2013 NFL Top 100". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  39. ^ Hanzus, Dan (May 13, 2013). "Dennis Pitta signs $2.023M Baltimore Ravens tender". NFL.com. Retrieved May 17, 2013.
  40. ^ Wilson, Aaron (August 13, 2013). "Ravens haven't ruled out Dennis Pitta for the season". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  41. ^ "Game of the year, Dennis Pitta's huge return and more from Sunday's win over the Vikings". Baltimore Sun. December 9, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  42. ^ "Dennis Pitta 2013 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  43. ^ Eagle, Ben (February 28, 2014). "Dennis Pitta, Ravens agree to five-year, $32 million contract". SI. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  44. ^ Schaefer, Kevin (September 9, 2014). "BYU in the NFL: Week 1". Vanquish The Foe. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  45. ^ Wilson, Aaron (September 22, 2014). "Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta had season-ending surgery on dislocated right hip". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on September 23, 2014. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
  46. ^ "Dennis Pitta 2014 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  47. ^ "Ravens Put Dennis Pitta On PUP, Down To 75". baltimoreravens.com. September 1, 2015. Archived from the original on May 20, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  48. ^ Zrebiec, Jeff (November 11, 2015). "Dennis Pitta won't play this season, says he's not ready to retire". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
  49. ^ Downing, Garrett (April 12, 2016). "Report: Dennis Pitta Plans To Return In 2016". Baltimore Ravens. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  50. ^ Hensley, Jamison (September 3, 2016). "Ravens TE Pitta back at practice after 32 days". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  51. ^ Downing, Garrett (September 12, 2016). "Dennis Pitta Feels Like He Hasn't Missed A Beat". Baltimore Ravens. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  52. ^ "Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns - September 18th, 2016". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  53. ^ Zrebiec, Jeff (September 19, 2016). "Dennis Pitta's trip to Cleveland far more pleasant and productive this time". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  54. ^ "Miami Dolphins at Baltimore Ravens - December 4th, 2016". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  55. ^ "Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals - January 1st, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  56. ^ "2016 NFL Receiving". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  57. ^ "Dennis Pitta 2016 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  58. ^ Patra, Kevin (June 2, 2017). "Ravens TE Dennis Pitta suffers hip injury during OTAs". NFL.com. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  59. ^ Mink, Ryan (June 2, 2017). "Dennis Pitta Suffers Another Hip Injury In Practice". BaltimoreRavens.com. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  60. ^ Mink, Ryan (June 7, 2017). "Ravens Release Tight End Dennis Pitta". BaltimoreRavens.com. Archived from the original on August 21, 2017. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  61. ^ "Former Raven Players Join WBAL NewsRadio 1090 In The Broadcast Booth". WBAL NewsRadio 1090. August 25, 2017. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
  62. ^ Drew, Jay (May 25, 2022). "Dennis Pitta on why he completed degree 13 years after leaving BYU for the NFL". Deseret News. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  63. ^ Mink, Ryan (May 23, 2016). "Inside Dennis Pitta's Decision To Play Football Again". Baltimore Ravens. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
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