Kyle Pitts Condemns NFL Players for 'Fake' Tributes After Funeral Snub
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts has launched a scathing attack on NFL players, accusing them of displaying 'fake emotions' on social media after a minimal number of former teammates attended the funeral of wide receiver Rondale Moore on Friday. The Minnesota Vikings player, aged twenty-five, was found deceased in his garage last month with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, marking another devastating tragedy for the league following the recent death of Dallas Cowboys star Marshawn Kneeland.
Heartbreaking Funeral Turnout Sparks Outrage
Despite numerous online tributes from NFL figures after Moore's shocking passing, Pitts revealed that only approximately six or seven of his ex-teammates made the effort to attend the funeral service. The Falcons star, who maintained a close friendship with Moore after playing together in Atlanta for one season, shared a photo of the funeral pamphlet on his Instagram story alongside an emotional message.
'Crazy how only about 6 maybe 7 of your teammates in the NFL showed up for you today smfh... All that talk and fake emotion and nobody want to show up to lay you to rest... Just at a loss of words,' Pitts wrote. He further emphasized the importance of genuine relationships, stating: 'Be woke on who your "Brothers" really are, who really rock with you in all areas of life not just in front of cameras or the public! Folks just want to throw up a post and not mean it.'
A Tragic Loss for the NFL Community
Moore's death has sent shockwaves throughout the football world, leaving fans, players, and coaches grappling with the tragedy. The Vikings organization expressed deep sadness in an official statement, offering counseling and emotional support to teammates and staff. Head coach Kevin O'Connell described Moore as a 'humble, soft-spoken, and respectful young man' who was proud of his Indiana roots, highlighting his discipline and resilience despite career setbacks from injuries.
Pitts, who was selected fourth overall in the 2021 NFL Draft alongside Moore being picked forty-ninth, shared a heartfelt tribute last month, posting photos of them together on Instagram with the caption: 'Midget Mack… This can’t be real dawg. I’m really sitting here crying on even what to say or think bruh. We literally was just on the phone yesterday morning.' He added, 'I love you dawg and 4 is going to live on forever,' referencing their shared jersey number.
Rondale Moore's Promising Career Cut Short
Moore's football journey was marked by both achievement and adversity. A standout at Purdue University, he earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year and Receiver of the Year honors in 2018, graduating in 2020 with a degree in selling and sales management and an impressive 3.5 GPA. Despite his diminutive stature at five feet seven inches, he excelled on the field, becoming one of the nation's most coveted recruits from Trinity High School in Louisville, where he was named the 2017 Gatorade Kentucky Player of the Year.
After being drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in 2021, Moore was traded to the Falcons in 2024 before signing a one-year, two-million-dollar deal with the Vikings ahead of the 2025 season. His career was repeatedly hampered by injuries, including a season-ending knee injury during a preseason game against the Houston Texans in August, which marked the second consecutive year his season was cut short. His college coach remembered him as a 'joy' to work with, underscoring the profound loss felt across the sport.
