A Pioneering HBCU Football Legend: Remembering Frank Pitts' Super Bowl Legacy

The HBCU community mourns the loss of a true trailblazer, Frank Pitts, who passed away on January 16 at the age of 82. Pitts' remarkable football journey spanned the golden era of HBCU athletics and the earliest days of the Super Bowl, leaving an indelible mark on the sport and his alma mater, Southern University.

Born in South Carolina and raised in Atlanta, Pitts found his football home at Southern University in the early 1960s, a time when opportunities for Black athletes were still largely confined to the HBCU sphere. Pitts emerged as a dynamic wide receiver, helping to strengthen the Jaguars' national reputation and paving the way for a generation of HBCU football players to compete at the highest levels despite societal limitations.

Pitts' path eventually led him into professional football history. The Kansas City Chiefs selected him in the 1965 AFL Draft, and in January 1967, he took the field in the first-ever Super Bowl, then known as the AFL-NFL World Championship Game. Though the Chiefs lost 35-10 to the Green Bay Packers, Pitts secured his place in the annals of football history as one of the select few HBCU alumni to compete on the Super Bowl stage during the game's formative years.

Pitts' football journey continued, and he later returned to the Super Bowl with the Chiefs, helping the team defeat the Minnesota Vikings 23-7 in Super Bowl IV.

Throughout his 10-season professional career, Pitts showcased his versatility, contributing as both a wide receiver and a special teams player. His longevity and adaptability in the league reflected the grit and determination required of early HBCU football alumni, who had to overcome societal barriers to achieve success at the highest levels of the sport.

After retiring from the NFL, Pitts returned to Baton Rouge to serve his alma mater, Southern University, as the Director of the F.G. Clark Activity Center and as a wide receivers coach for the Jaguars. In this role, he mentored the next generation of HBCU football players, passing on the lessons and experiences that had defined his own storied career.

"Frank Pitts embodied the spirit of HBCU athletics, where passion, determination, and a deep sense of community come together to forge champions. His legacy lives on through the players he coached, the institution he served, and the unbreakable bond he shared with his grandson, Brandon Bolden, who followed in his footsteps to the Super Bowl."

The passing of Frank Pitts marks the end of an era, but his influence and impact on HBCU football and the Super Bowl will continue to be felt for generations to come. As the HBCU community mourns the loss of this trailblazer, we celebrate the indelible mark he left on the sport and the inspiration he provided to countless aspiring athletes who dare to dream big, regardless of the obstacles they may face.

Originally reported by HBCU Gameday.