A Huge Change of Scenery

by Bo Marchionte
@bomarchionte | College2Pro.com
Published August 4, 2026, 5:49 PM

A Fresh Start in Pittsburgh

Michael Pittman Jr. walked into the NFL as a polished USC receiver with all the tools to become a star. Indianapolis grabbed him in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, and over the next 95 games he quietly proved exactly that.

What’s remarkable isn’t just what Pittman accomplished. It’s what he accomplished despite the revolving door throwing him the football.

While stars like A.J. Brown eventually landed alongside Jalen Hurts and other elite receivers have spent years building chemistry with franchise quarterbacks, Pittman spent half a decade surviving quarterback chaos.

Thirteen different starting quarterbacks cycled through Indianapolis during his time there, forcing him to constantly adapt instead of grow with one passer.

And through it all, Pittman never became the guy pointing fingers. He never buried teammates publicly or searched for excuses. He simply went back to work.

Now, for the first time in his NFL career, the Grade-A competitor finally gets to catch passes from a future Hall of Famer in Aaron Rodgers. That alone could change everything.

Pittman Jr. Career Stats

  • Career Starts: 86
  • Receiving Yards: 5,254
  • Receptions: 485
  • 1,000 Yard Seasons: 2
  • Touchdowns: 25

One Last Go Around with Aaron Rodgers

Now, in Pittsburgh, the next chapter figures to continue that strange trend, whether the ball comes from Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Will Howard or Drew Allar.

For most receivers, that kind of yearly upheaval is a tax on production. Timing changes. Trust changes. The shape of the offense changes. A receiver can spend half a career adjusting to circumstances he never asked for.

Pittman seemed to hint at that reality without bitterness when he spoke about Indianapolis. He did not bury the Colts. He did not take a shot at Shane Steichen. He simply spoke with the kind of frankness that rarely survives inside NFL walls.

“Yeah, so I don’t want to give up his secret sauce,” Pittman said of Mike McCarthy, “but it was very positive and diversifying the things that I can do. Because obviously, like in Indy, like I played a certain role there. So just getting back to where I have more of a diverse route tree and stuff like that.”

Read the tea leaves.

Pittman was not complaining. Any other receiver with his skillset might have exploded under the exact circumstances.

Targeted Passes for Michael Pittman Jr.

  • 2020: 61 Targets
  • 2021: 129 Targets
  • 2022: 141 Targets
  • 2023: 156 Targets
  • 2024: 111 Targets
  • 2025: 111 Targets

Finally Catching Passes from Aaron Rodgers

Since entering the NFL in 2020, Michael Pittman Jr. has caught passes from Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan, Nick Foles, Sam Ehlinger, Gardner Minshew II, Joe Flacco, Anthony Richardson, Daniel Jones and several others.

Now he walks into the huddle with one of the greatest quarterbacks the game has ever seen.

The difference has already left an impression.

Colts Starting Quarterbacks (2020–2025)

  • 2020: Philip Rivers, Jacoby Brissett, Zach Pascal
  • 2021: Carson Wentz, Jacob Eason
  • 2022: Matt Ryan, Sam Ehlinger, Nick Foles
  • 2023: Gardner Minshew II, Anthony Richardson
  • 2024: Anthony Richardson, Joe Flacco
  • 2025: Daniel Jones, Philip Rivers, Riley Leonard, Anthony Richardson

“Oh yeah, I mean Aaron knows more football than anybody, and just being able to learn from him. I thought I knew a lot of football playing six years, but I’m learning that I got a lot more to learn. So just catching up to his speed and getting reps in.”

The learning doesn’t stop when meetings end.

Rodgers constantly shares details that most quarterbacks simply don’t see.

“I mean he’s always dropping little dimes. So pretty much everything that he says, honestly.”

For a receiver who has endured one of the NFL’s longest quarterback carousels, Pittsburgh doesn’t just represent a new team. It represents stability, elite quarterback play and perhaps the best opportunity of his career to maximize everything he has to offer.

Michael Pittman Jr. Stable Metrics

  • Receiving Grade: 33rd percentile
  • Receiving Grade vs. Single Coverage: 14th percentile
  • Receiving Grade vs. ZUT (Zone, Underneath, Top): 66th percentile
  • Separation Percentage: 71st percentile
  • Separation Percentage vs. Single Coverage: 32nd percentile
  • Yards Per Route Run (YPRR): 60th percentile
  • Average Depth of Target (aDOT): 18th percentile
  • Yards After Catch per Reception (YAC/Rec): 30th percentile

Michael Pittman Jr.’s stable metrics paint the picture of a receiver who wins differently than many of the NFL’s top wideouts.

He isn’t built around explosive downfield plays or creating big yards after the catch. Instead, Pittman consistently finds soft spots against zone coverage, where his 66th-percentile receiving grade stands out.

His 71st-percentile separation rate also shows he’s capable of creating space throughout his routes, even if it doesn’t always come against isolated man coverage. With a low average depth of target, Pittman thrives as a reliable possession receiver who keeps drives alive and gives his quarterback dependable answers underneath. In Mike McCarthy’s offense, that steady, chain-moving presence can be just as valuable as a home-run threat, especially alongside more explosive weapons like DK Metcalf and Germie Bernard.

These are PFF Quick Cuts usage splits. They show how a receiver was deployed and where his targets came from, not necessarily how efficient he was. They help paint the picture of the role he played in the offense.

Michael Pittman Jr. PFF Quick Cuts

  • 115 total targets
  • 96 open targets
  • 19 tight-window targets
  • 75 targets vs. zone (ZUT)
  • 35 targets vs. single coverage
  • 71 middle-of-field (MOF) targets
  • 44 outside-the-numbers targets
  • 37 targets (10-19 yards)
  • 35 targets (5-9 yards)
  • 25 targets (1-4 yards)
  • 18 crossing-route targets
  • 17 in-route targets
  • 16 go-route targets
  • 16 slant targets
  • 5 drops
  • 6 screen targets
  • 2 scramble-drill targets

Pittman’s usage confirms what shows up on film.

He’s a volume possession receiver who thrives by working the intermediate areas of the field rather than living off vertical shots.

The heavy dose of targets against zone coverage and over the middle suggests quarterbacks trust him to uncover in traffic and present a dependable throwing window. His route tree leans toward slants, crossers, digs and hitches, allowing him to use size, body positioning and strong hands to consistently move the chains.

While he isn’t featured as a pure field-stretcher, Pittman gives offense stability. He wins with timing, toughness and route discipline, making him an ideal complementary target who can keep drives alive while explosive playmakers stretch the defense elsewhere.

After five years he gets the combo of McCarthy and Rodgers. Possibly the final season for the four-time league MVP should be good for Pittman Jr. to enjoy a renaissance in his career.

Photo Credit Frank Hyatt/College2Pro.com

 

 

 

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