Michael Pittman Jr.: From USC Standout to Colts' Leading Receiver

Michael Pittman Jr., born on October 5, 1997, is an American professional football wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). His journey to the NFL began in Southern California, showcasing his talent early on in high school. He then transitioned to a successful college career at USC, solidifying his position as a promising football prospect.

Early Years and High School Career

Pittman grew up in Southern California. As a freshman, he attended Valencia High School, before transferring to Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village, California, for his sophomore, junior, and senior years. At Oaks Christian, Pittman quickly became a standout player. As a senior, he recorded impressive stats, catching 81 passes for 1,990 yards and 24 touchdowns. His outstanding performance earned him first-team All-America honors from Parade and Max Preps. He also participated in the All-American Bowl, further highlighting his status as a top high school player. In the final game of his high school career, Pittman caught 16 passes for 354 yards and five touchdowns. Rated a four-star recruit, Pittman initially committed to play college football for the UCLA Bruins.

College Career at USC

Pittman enrolled at USC in the spring of 2016 after graduating from Oaks Christian a semester early. His career with the USC Trojans demonstrated consistent growth and impact.

Freshman Year (2016)

As a true freshman, he contributed both on offense and special teams. He caught 6 passes for 82 yards on offense, while also returning two punts for 63 yards and four kickoffs for 31 yards. His versatility was evident as he also contributed by blocking a punt and forcing a fumble on special teams.

Developing Years

Pittman continued to develop his skills and role within the team, gradually increasing his impact on the field.

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Junior Year

As a junior, Pittman earned honorable mention All-Pac-12 Conference honors. He recorded 41 receptions for 758 yards with six touchdowns, showcasing his growing importance to the Trojans' offense.

Senior Year

Pittman's senior year was his most impressive. He became a consensus second-team All-American. His performance led to him winning the Pop Warner Award as the nation's top senior.

NFL Career with the Indianapolis Colts

Pittman's successful college career paved the way for his entry into the NFL.

Drafted by the Colts

Pittman was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the second round with the 34th overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft.

2020 Season: Early Challenges and Breakthroughs

Pittman made his professional debut on September 13, 2020, against the Jacksonville Jaguars, catching two passes for ten yards in the 27-20 loss. He faced an early setback when he was placed on injured reserve on October 3, 2020, due to compartment syndrome in his calf. However, he was activated on October 31 and quickly returned to contribute to the team. In Week 9 against the Baltimore Ravens, he caught 4 passes for 56 yards in a 24-10 loss. He had his first 100-yard game with seven receptions for 101 yards in the 34-17 victory against the Tennessee Titans in Week 10 on Thursday Night Football.

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2021 Season: Stepping into a Larger Role

In a Week 2 loss against the Los Angeles Rams, Pittman had a career game, hauling in 8 passes for 123 yards. Pittman scored his second career touchdown in a 31-25 loss to the Ravens, finishing with 6 receptions for 89 yards. Continuing to carve out a big role in the Colts' offense, Pittman hit 100 receiving yards for the third time in his career in a Week 7 Sunday Night Football matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. He caught 4 passes for 105 yards, including a touchdown catch that sealed the Colts' 30-18 win. In the following week's overtime loss against the Titans, Pittman recorded 10 receptions on 15 targets for 86 yards, also scoring 2 touchdowns within a minute. Late in the season, tempers flared in a game against the Patriots, resulting in Pittman's ejection. Despite the ejection, Pittman was named a Pro Bowl alternate, recognizing his growing impact on the Colts' offense. Pittman concluded the season having his first 1,000 yard receiving season.

2022 Season

In Week 1, Pittman caught eight passes for 97 yards and one touchdown, during a 31-21 loss to the Jaguars.

2023 Season: Record-Breaking Performance and Recognition

In a Week 13 victory over the Tennessee Titans, Pittman hauled in his 314th career reception, breaking the Colts franchise record for the most catches in the first four years of a player's career. One week later, he tied former Colts receiver and Pro Football Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison for the most consecutive games with at least eight receptions in Colts history. In the Week 15 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittman was taken out of the game due to a concussion after taking a hit from safety Damontae Kazee, which led to Kazee being ejected from the game and a 15-yard roughness penalty being enacted on Pittsburgh. He finished the season as the Colts leading receiver with 109 catches for 1,152 yards and four touchdowns.

2024: Franchise Tag and Long-Term Extension

The Colts placed a non-exclusive franchise tag on Pittman, demonstrating their commitment to retaining him. Shortly after, Pittman was re-signed to a long-term extension.

Personal Life

Pittman is the son of former NFL running back and Super Bowl champion Michael Pittman and Kristin Randall. Pittman Sr. played on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2002 championship roster. His younger brother, Mycah Pittman, played wide receiver at Oregon, Florida State, and Utah. Pittman also runs a YouTube channel with his wife, Kianna Pittman, called "Michael and Kianna".

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