Frank Pitts Jr., a wide receiver who brought speed, toughness, and big-play ability to every team he suited up for, passed away on January 16 at the age of 82. Pitts carved out a 10-year pro football career that spanned three franchises and included appearances in two Super Bowls, a pair of AFL titles, and a memorable run with the Cleveland Browns.
Originally selected in the fourth round of the 1965 AFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs, Pitts spent six seasons in Kansas City and was part of one of the most pivotal eras in franchise history. He played in both Super Bowl I and Super Bowl IV, bookending the AFL’s rise with appearances on football’s biggest stage. While the Chiefs came up short in their first Super Bowl appearance against the Packers, they made history in Super Bowl IV, defeating the Minnesota Vikings in what would be the final game before the AFL-NFL merger.
Pitts made his mark in that championship game. He didn’t light up the box score, but his impact was undeniable.
He hauled in three catches for 33 yards and added three rushes for 37, with two of those plays directly setting up scores. A 20-yard grab in the first quarter helped lead to a 48-yard Jan Stenerud field goal, and a 19-yard run in the second quarter set up another.
Those early points helped the Chiefs build a lead they wouldn’t relinquish, cruising to a 23-7 win and cementing their place in football history.
Ahead of the 1971 season, the Cleveland Browns saw an opportunity and traded a pair of draft picks to bring Pitts aboard. It turned out to be a savvy move.
Over three seasons in Cleveland, Pitts caught 94 passes for 1,424 yards and 16 touchdowns-more scoring production than he had during his six years in Kansas City. He quickly became a go-to target in the Browns' offense, especially in critical moments.
Two games during his Cleveland stint stand out. The first came in 1971, when Pitts returned to Kansas City to face his former team.
He responded with a statement performance: five catches for 129 yards, reminding the Chiefs exactly what they’d lost. Then, in 1972, Pitts delivered one of the most clutch plays of his career.
With just 41 seconds left on the clock during a Monday Night Football showdown against the San Diego Chargers, he hauled in a 38-yard touchdown pass from Mike Phipps to seal a dramatic victory.
That 1972 season was Pitts’ best statistically as a Brown. He posted career highs in receptions (36) and touchdowns (8), the latter tying him for the 17th-best single-season mark in franchise history.
He also racked up 620 receiving yards, his second-best season total. The Browns rode that momentum into the playoffs as the AFC’s Wild Card team.
Unfortunately, their postseason run ended at the hands of the undefeated Miami Dolphins, who were in the midst of their perfect season. The Browns were in it until the end, but five interceptions from Phipps proved too much to overcome in a narrow 20-14 loss. Pitts had a chance to make a difference early, but a dropped touchdown pass in the first quarter loomed large as the game slipped away.
Pitts finished his career in 1973 with the Oakland Raiders, appearing in 13 games and catching three passes for 33 yards. While his role was limited in that final season, his legacy had already been written-a dependable receiver who showed up in big moments and helped shape one of the most transformative decades in professional football.
Frank Pitts Jr. brought a spark to every offense he joined and left his mark on some of the most memorable games of his era. He was a key contributor during a time when the AFL was proving it could stand toe-to-toe with the NFL, and he carried that same competitive fire into his years with the Browns. His name may not always top the highlight reels, but for those who watched him play-or played alongside him-his impact was undeniable.