South Atlanta News

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Falcons' tight ends, including Charlie Woerner, John FitzPatrick, and Ross Dwelley, have developed a close bond both on and off the field. "We like to stick together and do things together, kind of be on the same schedule and we just feed off each other," Dwelley said. "It's been a great friendship."

The trio shares similar roles as block-first, inline tight ends and has a shared history. Woerner played with FitzPatrick at the University of Georgia for two years and with Dwelley at the San Francisco 49ers for four seasons.

Woerner noted that this familiarity has created a unique dynamic within the Falcons' tight end room. "Here it's even easier when you got two guys that you've known for a long time, and you instantly walk in and start meeting everyone else too," he said.

This camaraderie extends to their performance on the field, particularly between Dwelley and Woerner, who have significant playing experience together through multiple playoff runs. Off the field, their friendship is evident in personal moments such as Dwelley's invitation to Woerner to be a groomsman at his wedding last summer.

Falcons tight end coach Kevin Koger described Woerner as "the connection piece" in the room. "Chuck is such a good leader he can go in different rooms and relate to people really well," Koger said. Conversely, Koger referred to Dwelley as "Mr. Dependable" due to his consistent performance.

While blocking remains a primary responsibility for these tight ends, their versatility has also been praised by Koger. Despite having just one reception in 2023, Dwelley's catching ability was recognized during training camp. "He's caught a couple good balls... nothing I ain't seen for the last four years out in San Francisco," Woerner remarked.

The depth of talent among the Falcons' tight ends is further bolstered by Kyle Pitts, who aims for resurgence this season after surpassing 1,000 yards as a rookie. The group’s camaraderie includes an active group chat that frequently buzzes with activity.

With college football season approaching, friendly rivalries are expected to surface within the group chat. Pitts represents Florida Gators while others like FitzPatrick support Georgia Bulldogs. "Every year I get to mess with Kyle about Georgia-Florida... We have fun together talking about that," FitzPatrick said.

In summary, the strong friendships among these players foster not only personal connections but also enhance their professional collaboration on the field.