Kenny Pickett Gets Booed at Pitt Game

Former Pittsburgh Steelers and Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett was once a fan favorite in the Steel City, but things have changed since his abrupt exit from the Steelers in March when he requested a trade following the signing of Russell Wilson. The Steelers obliged and sent the 2022 first-round pick cross-state to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Pickett’s reputation in Pittsburgh took a big hit, as many in the fanbase thought he showcased diva-like characteristics for not wanting to compete with Wilson for the starting quarterback spot. On the flip side, while not the majority, there’s a portion of the fanbase that thinks the Steelers mistreated Pickett and betrayed him.

Fans at the Pitt-Kenn State game at Acrisure Stadium on Saturday voiced their displeasure by booing Pickett when his preseason highlights with the Eagles were displayed on the jumbotron. Pitt was highlighting former Panthers in the NFL. Many on social media thought it was disrespectful for fans to boo Pickett, especially with all that he did for the program.

Things didn’t pan out for Kenny Pickett with the Steelers, but he’s a Pitt legend. He led the Panthers to an 11-3 record and an ACC title in 2021. It was Pitt’s best season since 1981, when Dan Marino was the quarterback.

“Kenny Pickett was great for Pitt. Not so much for Steelers. If you’re booing him at a Pitt game. You need your fan card revoked. You’re there to support the college team. Not the Black & Gold,” Andrew Fillipponi of 93.7 The Fan wrote on X.

Kenny Pickett was great for Pitt.

Not so much for Steelers.

If you’re booing him at a Pitt game. You need your fan card revoked.

You’re there to support the college team. Not the Black & Gold.

— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) August 31, 2024

Things didn’t go well for Pickett on many levels during his two seasons as the Steelers quarterback. The most glaring problem was his inability to put the ball into the end zone. His 13 passing touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 25 career games is the lowest touchdown percentage in NFL history (1.8%, minimum 500 pass attempts).

Pickett didn’t perform like a first-round pick, but Mike Tomlin’s decision to not only hire Matt Canada to be the team’s offensive coordinator but to bring him back after the 2022 season was also a massive mistake. The Steelers really didn’t do Pickett any favors.

The Steelers fired Canada after a Week 11 loss to the Cleveland Browns. But the damage was already done.

Warren Sharp of Sharp Football believes the Steelers set up Pickett to fail.

“If you draft a QB in the first round, and then feed him to the wolves that are Matt Canada’s play calls as a rookie, and then don’t realize Canada sucks and keep him in 2023, guaranteeing another offseason without good offensive tutelage, and then fire Canada midseason, but replace him with a tandem of two coaches who have never called plays in the NFL before, what are you expecting that you’ll get?”

“I’m not pro-Pickett, but the way the Steelers “supported” their first round QB and hopeful heir apparent to Big Ben was embarrassing,” Sharp wrote in his new book 2024 Football Preview.

As for Pickett, he reiterated in an interview with Ben Istvan of the The Philadelphia Inquirer that he felt like a change was the best thing for him, and handled the situation the right way.

“Change is a great thing. I’m going through it right now,” Pickett told Istvan. “I was in Pittsburgh for seven years and now I’m over in Philadelphia… I think a lot of people probably have some negative views on change, but that’s really just your outlook on it. I think if you keep a positive mindset, it’ll all work out for the better.”

The Steelers play the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Dec. 15. Unless Jalen Hurts suffers an injury prior or during the game, Pickett will serve as the Eagles’ No. 2 quarterback.