Kittelson: BP’s football family

If you’ve been to any Blooming Prairie football games over the course of the past six years, chances are you’ve heard the name “Kittelson” announced over the intercom following a touchdown.

Senior quarterback Brady Kittelson has been on fire to open his final season wearing the black and white, and he’s picked up right where his brother, Drew, left off three years ago.

The former has led his team to a 5-1 record and accumulated 24 touchdowns through six games to start the season.

“It’s been a blast. I really appreciate my team for making me look like a great athlete. I couldn’t do it without all of them. Football is not a single sport athlete. I really appreciate all my friends being hard workers, enjoying the sport along with me and being great at it,” said Brady Kittelson.

Making the hot start even sweeter for Kittelson is the fact he gets to share it directly with his father, Matt.

Matt Kittelson began coaching for Blooming Prairie in the 2004-05 season and is currently the team’s defensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

During his tenure on the staff, he has seen two sons go on to star as quarterbacks and defensive backs for the Awesome Blossoms – the team he played for in his high school days growing up in town.

According to Brady and Matt, practices and game days are just like any other day.

Both work tirelessly in their respective positions to ensure that when the clock strikes 7 p.m. on Friday nights, they’re prepared to do what’s necessary to earn an Awesome Blossoms’ win.

However, off the field, football is not the primary focus.

“Both the boys would maybe say at times I’m a little harder on them than the other kids, but I really try to keep it even. I’m just a coach and they’re another player on the team, same as everyone else. When we’re at home, then I can be dad. We don’t watch film together at home or hardly talk about it other than maybe little snippets here and there of, ‘How did you think practice went’ or ‘What did you think of this?’ When I’m home, I just want to be dad. Making sure his school work is going well and that he’s taking the garbage out. Really keeping football and life separate a little bit,” said Matt Kittelson.

With two games left in the regular season, Blooming Prairie is pushing toward playoff time with some real hopes of making a deep run toward a Class A state title.

The Awesome Blossoms are currently ranked No. 9 in the state and have the opportunity to accomplish a feat that would be a unique opportunity for the Kittelson family.

Matt and Drew Kittelson both won a state title with the Awesome Blossoms in 2019, and with the potential for another title run in 2024, the former could potentially earn his second title with his other son, Brady, this fall.

After the conclusion of the 2024 high school season Kittelson will no longer have any sons in the Blooming Prairie football program, but he won’t be done watching them play.

After graduating in 2021, Drew Kittelson began his career with Minnesota State University, Mankato as a wide receiver, and now in 2025, Brady will begin his career with University of Sioux Falls as a wide receiver as well.

“At some point when they were little I suppose you think about it, but we always just took the approach of, ‘Do your best in everything you do.’ You know, be a good friend, work hard in school and athletics. Excel in everything you do. I’m proud as heck of them both,” said Matt Kittelson on his sons’ careers as Awesome Blossoms.