Falcons players criticize for making rookie Zachariah Branch cover $35,000 dinner bill
2 sources • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 22, 2026, 9:14 AM
Last updated Aug 22, 2026
Atlanta Falcons rookie wide receiver Zachariah Branch faced a dinner bill of approximately $35,000 after his teammates, including Kyle Pitts, tasked him with covering expenses during an outing. This dinner, part of a controversial NFL tradition for rookies, has sparked a backlash among fans who label it as hazing. Critics argue that such practices can lead to poor financial habits for new players, who are expected to treat veterans to costly meals as a rite of passage. Despite the negative reception, Pitts reportedly reassured Branch that he would not be left to navigate the costs alone. Branch was the 79th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on a four-year rookie contract worth about $7 million.
- •Zachariah Branch assigned a $35,000 dinner bill by Falcons teammates.
- •The dinner is part of an NFL rookie tradition facing criticism.
- •Critics claim it sets young players up for financial irresponsibility.
- •Kyle Pitts reassured Branch about the situation.
- •Branch's rookie contract is approximately $7 million.
- 9:14 AMYahoo Sports — Atlanta Falcons WR Zachariah Branch left shook as annual rookie dinner racks up staggering check
- 11:35 PMYahoo Sports — ‘Worst Tradition’, ‘Why Dudes Go Broke’ — NFL Fans Rip Falcons Players for Making Rookie Zachariah Branch Pay $35,000 Dinner Bill
"The Atlanta Falcons rookie wide receiver Zachariah Branch was reportedly handed three dinner checks by tight end Kyle Pitts and his new teammates after the team’s offense went out to eat. The bill came to roughly $35,000, which Branch was supposedly made to pay as part of an NFL tradition for rookies.
"Rookie wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons, Zachariah Branch, was handed the annual rookie dinner bill ahead of their season opener. It has now become a tradition for the rookies to stump up some of their big-money contracts to feed their teammates in a team-building dinner.
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsAug 22, 2026, 9:14 AMAtlanta Falcons WR Zachariah Branch left shook as annual rookie dinner racks up staggering check
Rookie wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons, Zachariah Branch, was handed the annual rookie dinner bill ahead of their season opener. It has now become a tradition for the rookies to stump up some of their big-money contracts to feed their teammates in a team-building dinner.
- Yahoo SportsAug 21, 2026, 11:35 PM‘Worst Tradition’, ‘Why Dudes Go Broke’ — NFL Fans Rip Falcons Players for Making Rookie Zachariah Branch Pay $35,000 Dinner Bill
The Atlanta Falcons rookie wide receiver Zachariah Branch was reportedly handed three dinner checks by tight end Kyle Pitts and his new teammates after the team’s offense went out to eat. The bill came to roughly $35,000, which Branch was supposedly made to pay as part of an NFL tradition for rookies.
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