Frank H. Pitts (born November 12, 1943) is a former professional American football wide receiver in the American Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL). He played ten seasons for the AFL's Kansas City Chiefs (1965–1969) and then the NFL's Chiefs (1970), Cleveland Browns (1971–1973) and Oakland Raiders (1974).
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||||
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| Born: | November 12, 1943 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | ||||||||
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| College: | Southern | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1965 / round: 16 / pick: 213 (by the Chicago Bears) | ||||||||
| AFL draft: | 1965 / round: 4 / pick: 32 (by the Kansas City Chiefs)[1] | ||||||||
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Kansas City Chiefs
editPitts came to the Chiefs in 1965, the team's fourth-round draft pick. He had speed and desire, but throughout the wide receiver's first three seasons in Kansas City. he acquired a "bad hands" label. However, he worked through the problem, and when starting wide receiver Otis Taylor was injured in 1968, Pitts stepped in. He was a starter the next three seasons, and his end around reverse runs became a big part of the Chiefs' offense.
Super Bowl IV
editHank Stram told the play to Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson. "Listen, let's have a ... 9-0-8, 51 G-O reverse." As Dawson ran back to the huddle, Stram told everyone on the sidelines, "Here comes the reverse from Tight I, it could be wide open." Dawson took the snap, faked to Wendell Hayes on the left side of the line, then turned the ball to a sprinting Frank Pitts, who turned the corner and jetted down the right sideline for 20 yards. It was one of the biggest plays of the Chiefs' Super Bowl IV win over the Minnesota Vikings, and it set up Jan Stenerud's third field goal of the game.
Pitts ran the reverse again in the third quarter and picked up a critical first down. Otis Taylor scored on the next play.
In 74 games for Kansas City, Pitts caught 78 passes for 11 touchdowns and ran the ball 24 times for 238 yards and one touchdown.
Cleveland and Oakland
editThe Chiefs traded Pitts to the Cleveland Browns before the start of the 1971 season, where he became one of their starting wide receivers. He finished his career with the Oakland Raiders.
Personal life
editFrank currently resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Frank is married to Diane Guidry Pitts and they have three children.
His grandson, Brandon Bolden, played at Ole Miss and has spent the majority of his professional playing career with the New England Patriots. However, Bolden is now a running back for the Las Vegas Raiders, joining his grandfather in playing for the Silver and Black.[2][3]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "1965 AFL Draft". Archived from the original on February 25, 2017. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
- ^ Reiss, Mike. "Football journey: Brandon Bolden". Patriots Blog. ESPN Boston. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
- ^ Blog, KC Chiefs. "Around The Web: Replacing TG, Krumrie Runs, Chiefs Bloodlines In SEC". Archived from the original on January 27, 2013. Retrieved September 22, 2012.