LSU may have backed down on its quest to add professional athletes to its roster, but the conversation is still raging on.
Atlanta Falcons star tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. said he thought the concept of athletes returning to college football after participating in training camps is “crazy” and predicted college football players will unionize.
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“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.
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Kyle Pitts Sr. of the Atlanta Falcons stands for the national anthem before a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Sept. 13, 2026. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)
“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, said going through training camp is like earning a badge of honor and returning to college football is a step back.
“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 said.
Given how NIL has evolved, Pitts expects any potential union among college players to be strong.
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Kyle Pitts Sr. of the Atlanta Falcons reacts after a reception during the first quarter against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Jan. 4, 2026, in Atlanta. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
“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.
The 25-year-old signed a three-year, $53 million contract extension with the Falcons this offseason. He didn’t have any catches in the team’s 20-13 Week 1 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he has amassed 284 catches for 3,579 yards and 15 touchdowns in his career.
In addition to training for the football season, Pitts spent a day experiencing the work of special operations forces through USAA, training with a pararescue unit at Moody Air Force Base in southern Georgia. Pitts was put to the test by using the Jaws of Life to extract people from vehicles and aircraft, practicing basic tactical medical training for combat care, and simulating rescue missions.
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Kyle Pitts Sr. of the Atlanta Falcons turns upfield as Kool-Aid McKinstry of the New Orleans Saints pursues during the fourth quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Jan. 4, 2026, in Atlanta. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
The Pro Bowl tight end said it was an unforgettable experience.
“That was a life-changing day and it changed my perspective on really what people do in the armed forces. (I) got equipped with my greens on, and that was pretty cool that, I thought I was just gonna wear my own clothes, but I got my shirt on, got everything on, and had a chance to go through various different, not obstacles, but like training stations of like IVs, weapons, and artillery,” Pitts said.
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Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts, Sr. stands after a Week 18 NFL game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. (David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“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 continued. “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.”