Kyle Pitts Predicts College Football Unionization, Calls Player Return to College 'Crazy'

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. has predicted that college football players will unionize, citing the evolving landscape of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals as a catalyst. Pitts also expressed his view that it is "crazy" for professional athletes to consider returning to college football after participating in NFL training camps.

"I do think it's crazy, but I also think it's something that it's gonna happen," Pitts told OutKick in a recent interview. "We have to kind of brace for it because with NIL I feel like it's giving people chances to have different say, and in my opinion, I think, you heard from me here first. I think there's gonna be a union in the college football next. Which, you know, players will be able to have different rights to do different things."

Pitts, who has played in the NFL for six seasons, suggested that having gone through NFL training camp is a significant step, and returning to college football would be a regression. "I think once you go to the campground in NFL, I feel like it's a badge of honor of like, OK, I wouldn't want to go back to college and, whether things may have failed, whether you wanted them to (differently). It's not up to you to just want to try and want to regress and go back to college and just take another year on college campus when you've now been in competition with grown men with families and such, and just want to go back to college with kids," Pitts stated.

He anticipates that any potential union among college players could be robust, given the advancements in NIL.

"I think it'll be pretty strong because the donors and the voice that they have, it's like they're getting a lot of things done and especially with, look at how NIL has transcended from the first day to now. It's like they're getting their money's worth in terms of name, image and likeness. So it's good to see and I just can't wait to see like how big it'll turn. But I do think they'll have an opportunity to make it pretty well known to where the voices are heard," Pitts said.

Pitts, 25, recently signed a three-year, $53 million contract extension with the Falcons. In his NFL career, he has amassed 284 catches for 3,579 yards and 15 touchdowns.

In addition to his football career, Pitts recently participated in training with a pararescue unit at Moody Air Force Base. He described the experience as life-changing, involving the use of the Jaws of Life, practicing tactical medical training, and simulating rescue missions. "Get certain gear, use the Jaws of Life. Use the hammer to try and to save someone in, in the mission out of the car and had to use different tools to pry him out and get the door open and, and most importantly, stay calm in the situation," Pitts said. "Then learned about defense, covering the target and it was pretty cool to go through those different things with the crew that I did, and I'll never forget that day."