Michael Pittman

BIOGRAPHY

Michael Pittman Jr., an American professional footballer born on October 5, 1997, currently serves as a wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). A prominent figure in the field, his journey in football has been marked by several outstanding performances and accolades throughout his career.

He began his journey in the sport during high school, spending his first year at Valencia High School in Southern California where he grew up. He transferred to Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village, California for the rest of his high school education. In his senior year, he made a name for himself catching 81 passes for 1,990 yards and 24 touchdowns. He was named first-team All-America by Parade and MaxPreps and participated in the All-American Bowl.

Belying his four-star recruit status, Pittman initially committed to play for the UCLA Bruins. However, in the summer of 2015, he reopened his recruitment and eventually committed to the University of Southern California. His enrollment at USC in the spring of 2016 set the stage for his burgeoning college football career.

As a college student, Pittman achieved notable performances and received various recognitions. As a freshman, he caught six passes for 82 yards on offense while returning two punts for 63 yards, four kickoffs for 31 yards, blocking punt and forcing a fumble on special teams. In his sophomore season, he had 23 receptions for 404 yards and two touchdowns with a punt returned for a touchdown and a blocked punt on special teams.

Pittman continued to improve during his junior year, recording 41 receptions for 758 yards with six touchdowns. Following the end of the season, he considered entering the 2019 NFL draft but decided to return for his senior year after receiving a third-round grade from the NFL Draft Advisory Board. His final college season saw him catch 101 passes for 1,275 yards and 11 touchdowns, earning him first-team All-Pac-12 and a consensus second-team All-America selection. He was also a finalist for the Fred Biletnikoff Award and the recipient of the Pop Warner Award.

The Indianapolis Colts’ decision to select Pittman in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft marked the beginning of his professional football career. Despite facing setbacks with injury initially, Pittman recovered and steadily improved his performance, eventually achieving his first 100-yard game with the Colts. His impact on the field earned him the recognition as the first Colts’ rookie to reach 100 receiving yards in a game since Donte Moncrief in 2014.

In his subsequent games during his rookie season and beyond, Pittman continually displayed excellent performances, recording career-highs in targets, receptions, and touchdowns. He notably broke the 1,000 receiving yards on the season in a week 17 match against the Las Vegas Raiders, becoming the sixth Colts’ pass catcher since 2000 to do so.

Beyond performance, Pittman also helped to rewrite franchise records. In a Week 13 victory over the Tennessee Titans, he made his 314th career reception, setting a new franchise record for the most catches in the first four years of a player’s career. Additionally, he tied with Marvin Harrison, a Pro Football Hall of Famer and former Colts receiver, for the most consecutive games with at least eight receptions in Colts history.

In recognition of his contributions, the Colts placed the franchise tag on Pittman in March 2024. Shortly thereafter, he signed a three-year, $71.5 million contract extension, securing his position in the team with $46 million guaranteed.

Off the field, Pittman has a significant football lineage as the son of former NFL running back and Super Bowl champion Michael Pittman and Kristin Randall. His younger brother, Mycah Pittman, also plays wide receiver for the University of Utah. Beyond football, Pittman runs a YouTube channel with his wife, Kianna Pittman, producing the series “Gameday Vlogs” and “Road to the Draft.” Although Pittman is a fixture on the football field, he is deeply rooted in his Christian faith.