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 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
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 played as 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 strong seasons, Pitta had a hip injury in 2013. He played only sometimes until 2016. That year, he caught more passes than ever before. 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 also played college football. He was a middle linebacker for California.

Pitta went to Moorpark High School in Moorpark, California. He played football, basketball, and ran track. He was also an Eagle Scout. In football, he played as a wide receiver and cornerback. His large size made him hard to stop.

In his senior year (2002), Pitta caught 64 passes for 1,150 yards. He also scored 13 touchdowns. He was named a top player in his county and league. Pitta was a great student all four years. Many colleges were interested in him, but none offered him a full scholarship.

College Career at BYU

Pitta decided to go to Brigham Young University (BYU). He joined the BYU Cougars football team without a scholarship at first. His coach, Gary Crowton, moved him to play tight end. Soon, Pitta earned a scholarship.

He did not play in the 2003 season. In 2004, he played a lot because another player 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.

Pitta is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He took two years off from college football to serve a mission. He went to the Dominican Republic. He returned to BYU for the 2007 season. That year, he caught 59 passes for 813 yards and five touchdowns. He was one of the top tight ends in the country. He was named to the All-Mountain West Conference (MWC) first-team.

In 2008, Pitta had 83 catches for 1,083 yards and six touchdowns. In one game, he gained 213 yards, which was a record for a tight end in his conference. He also caught the game-winning touchdown pass against Colorado State. Pitta was a top candidate for several national awards. He was again named to the All-MWC first-team.

Before the 2009 season, experts thought Pitta would be a high pick in 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-America team.

Pitta's BYU Reception Records

Dennis Pitta set some impressive records at BYU:

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.

First Seasons: 2010-2012

In 2010, his first year, Pitta played in 11 games. He caught only one pass for one yard.

Pitta got much better in the 2011 season. He became a key target for quarterback Joe Flacco. He and Ed Dickson formed a strong tight end team. Pitta scored his first touchdown in Week 12 against the San Francisco 49ers. The Ravens won that game 16–6. He finished the year with 40 catches, 405 yards, and three touchdowns.

In the 2011-12 playoffs, Pitta caught five passes for 41 yards. He scored the Ravens' first touchdown in the AFC Championship game. However, the Ravens lost that game to the New England Patriots.

In 2012, Pitta played in all 16 games. He caught 61 passes for 669 yards and seven touchdowns. In one game against the Denver Broncos, he caught a pass and ran 61 yards for a touchdown. He ended that game with 125 yards and two scores.

Super Bowl Champion: 2013 Playoffs

Pitta played a big role in the 2013 playoffs. He scored a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts. He also scored a touchdown in the AFC Championship against the Patriots.

In Super Bowl XLVII, Pitta caught four passes for 26 yards. He scored a touchdown to help the Ravens win 34–31 against the 49ers. He finished the playoffs with 14 catches, 163 yards, and three touchdowns. Other NFL players ranked him 100th among the top players in 2013.

Injuries and Comebacks: 2013-2017

On July 27, 2013, Pitta had a serious hip injury during practice. He had surgery and was expected to miss the whole season. But he worked hard and returned in Week 14 of the 2013 season. In his first game back, he caught a touchdown pass. He played in four games that year, with 20 catches and one touchdown.

In February 2014, Pitta signed a new contract with the Ravens. In the first game of the 2014 season, he caught a career-high ten passes. However, in Week 3, he injured his hip again. This injury ended his 2014 season after only three games.

In 2015, doctors told Pitta it might not be safe for him to keep playing. He was placed on a special injury list. But Pitta said he was not ready to retire yet.

In 2016, Pitta announced he would try to play football again. He started practicing fully in September. He played in the first game of the 2016 season. In Week 2, he had nine catches for 102 yards. This was his second game with over 100 yards. His quarterback, Joe Flacco, said Pitta looked good and would be productive.

On December 4, Pitta scored two touchdowns against the Miami Dolphins. He finished the 2016 season with a career-high 86 catches. This was the most catches by any tight end in the league that year. He also had a career-high 729 receiving yards.

On June 2, 2017, Pitta suffered another hip injury during practice. It was his third hip dislocation. On June 7, the Ravens released him from the team. This injury ended his playing career. After retiring, he joined the Ravens radio team as a commentator.

NFL Career Statistics

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 NFL player Max Hall. Max Hall is married to Mataya's sister, Mckinzi Hall.