Frank Pitts's pivotal summer

A Dec. 21, 1968, Sporting News story by Bill Richardson sheds light on the career arc of Frank Pitts.

A speedster nicknamed “Mr. Wonderful” during his career at Southern University, Pitts was selected by the Chicago Bears in the 16th round of the 1965 NFL draft and by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth of the AFL draft. In his first three pro seasons, Pitts served only as a backup wide receiver with the Chiefs. Coach Hank Stram was pleased with Pitts’s attitude and behavior, but an inability to relax and concentrate had earned Pitts a reputation as an undependable pass catcher. Chiefs fans had grown impatient with Pitts when Stram decided to stick with him instead of a Detroit Lions castoff, Warren Wells, for the 1967 season and Wells went on to excel with the rival Oakland Raiders.

But, during the 1968 offseason, two things occurred to accelerate Pitts’s development. One, the Cincinnati Bengals claimed veteran Kansas City receiver Chris Burford in the expansion draft, opening an opportunity for Pitts. Two, Pitts joined a “colony of AFL and NFL players living (in Atlanta) in the off season. … Frank tested his skills against George Atkinson, Oakland; Willie Williams, Giants, and Ken Reaves, Atlanta Falcons.”[1]

Pitts went on to start for three seasons with Kansas City, and his end-around running played a key role in the Chiefs' Super Bowl IV win over the Minnesota Vikings. Pitts played with the Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons and Oakland, and his career ended after the 1974 season. He went on to coach at his college alma mater and Atlanta’s East Ascension High School, and he more recently has worked in the Louisiana Senate. His Super Bowl I and IV rings were stolen in 2005, according to a 2005 ESPN.com story (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=2254386&type=story).

You can check out some video highlights of Pitts with the Chiefs at http://www.leechvideo.com/video/view2229646.html.

Some questions for Frank Pitts:

Did you have the opportunity to play outside of the South for larger schools than Southern University?

In those first three years with Kansas City, did you ever feel you were close to losing your roster spot?

How did the working out with George Atkinson, Willie Williams and Ken Reaves during the 1968 offseason? Did you all live near each other? If so, where? What park was it that you worked out in? Were you four the only ones involved? Did you scrimmage or just work out and train? Was it a fun experience?

Were you sad to leave Kansas City? How would you compare the environment there to the environment in Cleveland and then in Oakland?

How did your playing career come to a close?

Did you ever get back your rings?

[1] Richardson, Bill “Chiefs Boast Bomb Catcher: Frank Pitts” The Sporting News (Dec. 21, 1968; 166:23) 5.