Dennis Pitta facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Dennis Pitta

Pitta with the Baltimore Ravens in 2011
No. 88
Position:	Tight end
Personal information
Born:	(1985-06-29) June 29, 1985 (age 40) 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
Baltimore Ravens (2010–2016)
Career highlights and awards
Super Bowl champion (XLVII) Consensus All-American (2009) 3× First-team All-MW (2007, 2008, 2009)
Career NFL statistics
Receptions: 224 Receiving yards: 2,098 Receiving touchdowns: 13
Player stats at PFR

Dennis Gregory Pitta Jr. (born June 29, 1985) is a former American football player. He was a tight end for the Baltimore Ravens in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the BYU Cougars. In 2009, he was named an All-American.

The Ravens picked him in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL draft. After two good seasons, Pitta hurt his hip in 2013. He played only sometimes until 2016. That year, he had his best season for receiving yards. Another injury in 2017 caused him to stop playing football.

Early Life and High School Football

Dennis Pitta was born in Fresno, California. His parents are Dennis and Linda Pitta. His father played college football for California.

Pitta went to Moorpark High School in Moorpark, California. He played football, basketball, and track. He was also an Eagle Scout.

Playing as a Wide Receiver

In high school, Pitta played as a wide receiver and cornerback. He was big, which made him hard to guard. In his senior year (2002), he caught 64 passes for 1,150 yards. He also scored 13 touchdowns.

That season, he was named a top player in his county and league. He was also a scholar-athlete all four years. Many colleges were interested in him. However, no top-level (Division I) schools offered him a scholarship.

College Football Career

Pitta decided to go to Brigham Young University (BYU). He joined the BYU Cougars football team without a scholarship at first. He started as a wide receiver.

Switching to Tight End

His coach, Gary Crowton, moved him to the tight end position. Soon after, he earned a scholarship. He did not play in the 2003 season. In 2004, he played a lot because the main tight end was hurt. Pitta caught 17 passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns. He even had more catches than the starter that year. Both of his touchdowns came in a game against Air Force. He also blocked a punt in that game, which helped BYU score.

Mission and Return to BYU

Pitta is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served a mission for his church in the Dominican Republic. This meant he took two years off from college football.

He came back to BYU for the 2007 season. He caught 59 passes for 813 yards and five touchdowns. He was one of the top tight ends in the country that year. Pitta was named to the All-Mountain West Conference (MWC) first-team. He also earned Academic All-MWC honors for his good grades.

Success in Later College Years

In 2008, Pitta had 83 catches for 1,083 yards and six touchdowns. In one game against Northern Iowa, he gained 213 yards. This broke the conference record for a tight end. He was named the John Mackey Tight End of the Week.

Against Colorado State, he caught the game-winning touchdown pass. He was again named Tight End of the Week. Pitta was the second-best receiver on his team that season. He was considered for several national awards. He was again named to the All-MWC first-team.

Before the 2009 season, experts thought Pitta would be picked in the third or fourth round of the NFL draft. He finished the 2009 season with 62 catches for 829 yards and eight touchdowns. He was a finalist for the Mackey Award, given to the best tight end. He was also named to the 2009 All-MWC first-team.

Dennis Pitta's BYU Reception Records

Professional Football Career

The Baltimore Ravens picked Dennis Pitta in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL draft. He was the 114th player chosen overall. The Ravens got this pick in a trade with the Denver Broncos. Pitta signed a three-year contract with the Ravens in June 2010.

2010 Season: Rookie Year

Pitta made his first NFL catch in Week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals. It was for one yard. This was his only catch during his rookie season in 2010. He played in 11 games that year.

2011 Season: Becoming a Key Player

Pitta got much better in the 2011 season. He became a frequent target for quarterback Joe Flacco. He and Ed Dickson formed a strong tight end duo. Pitta scored his first touchdown in Week 12 against the San Francisco 49ers. He caught an eight-yard pass, helping the Ravens win 16–6.

He scored his second touchdown two weeks later against the Indianapolis Colts. In the last game of the season, he was the team's top receiver. He had six catches for 62 yards and his third touchdown. Pitta finished the year with 40 catches, 405 yards, and three touchdowns.

In the playoffs, Pitta caught five passes for 41 yards against the New England Patriots. He scored the Ravens' first touchdown in that game. However, the Ravens lost, ending their season.

2012 Season: Super Bowl Champion

In Week 15 of 2012, Pitta caught a pass from Flacco against the Denver Broncos. He broke three tackles and ran for a 61-yard touchdown. He finished that game with seven catches for 125 yards and two scores. The Ravens still lost the game.

For the 2012 season, Pitta played in all 16 games and started five. He had 61 catches for 669 yards and seven touchdowns.

In the playoffs, he caught a 20-yard touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts. He had 55 yards in games against the Broncos and Patriots. He scored a touchdown against the Patriots. In Super Bowl XLVII, Pitta caught four passes for 26 yards and a touchdown. This helped the Ravens win 34–31 against the 49ers. He ended the playoffs with 14 catches, 163 yards, and three touchdowns. Other players ranked him 100th among the top NFL players in 2013.

2013 Season: First Hip Injury

On July 27, 2013, Pitta seriously hurt his hip during training camp. He had surgery that night. Doctors thought he would miss the whole season.

In Week 14 of the 2013 season, Pitta returned to play. He scored a touchdown in a 29–26 win against the Minnesota Vikings. In 2013, he played in four games. He had 20 catches for 169 yards and one touchdown.

2014 Season: Second Hip Injury

In February 2014, Pitta signed a new five-year contract with the Ravens. In the first game of the season, he caught ten passes for 83 yards. This was a new career high for him at the time.

On September 21, 2014, Pitta hurt his hip again during a game against the Cleveland Browns. His right hip was dislocated. He had surgery the next day. This injury ended his 2014 season after only three games.

2015 Season: Not Playing

In September 2015, Pitta was placed on a special list for injured players. In November, doctors told him it might not be safe to keep playing. He was put on injured reserve for the season. However, he said he had not decided to retire yet.

2016 Season: Comeback Year

In 2016, Pitta announced he would return to football when cleared. He started practicing fully in September. He played in the first game of the season on September 11, 2016. The Ravens won 13–7 against the Buffalo Bills.

In Week 2, Pitta had nine catches for 102 yards against the Cleveland Browns. This was his second game with over 100 receiving yards. Joe Flacco, the Ravens quarterback, said he knew Pitta would be good if he came back. On December 4, Pitta scored two touchdowns against the Miami Dolphins. This was his first time scoring since 2013.

In Week 17, Pitta had a career-high 11 catches for 91 yards. He had his best season statistically in 2016. He caught 86 passes, the most by any tight end in the league. He also had a career-high 729 receiving yards. He only caught two touchdown passes that year.

2017 Season: Career Ends

On June 2, 2017, Pitta hurt his hip again during team practice. It was his third hip dislocation. On June 7, the Ravens released him from the team.

After his playing career, he joined the Ravens radio broadcasts. He became a color commentator for some games.

NFL Career Statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Personal Life

Dennis Pitta is married to Mataya Gissel. They met while they were both at BYU. They have three children, including a set of twins. His oldest son is named Decker. Pitta is also related to former Arizona Cardinals player Max Hall. Max Hall is married to Mataya's sister, Mckinzi Hall.