Kenny Pickett Reflects on Steelers Career: ‘Loved My Time in Pittsburgh’
Two weeks ago, former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett got the chance to take a knee in victory formation to win a Super Bowl for the Philadelphia Eagles. It was a storybook moment for Pickett, as he got the chance to close out the game for the team that he grew up cheering for in Ocean Township, New Jersey.
Pickett now can claim that he’s a Super Bowl champion, a feat that is not easy to obtain.
To say the least, Pickett had a tumultuous two-year tenure with the Steelers. He never lived up to expectations and he had a rocky departure from the organization. Pickett wasn’t happy after the Steelers acquired veteran Russell Wilson last March and requested a trade. The Steelers obliged and sent him cross-state to Philadelphia.
The Steelers saddled Pickett with a failure of an offensive coordinator in Matt Canada, and despite his status as a veteran college player with ton of starting experience, he never fit in as a leader in a veteran locker room.
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 believe the Steelers mistreated Pickett and betrayed him.
Despite how things ended, Pickett holds no hard feelings toward the Steelers.
“The offseason was crazy. Everyone’s journey is different. It’s the NFL. It’s a tough league,” Pickett said on 93.7 The Fan Saturday morning. “So I’m kind of just taking it a day at a time, being where my feet are, putting everything into my craft, working hard. We’ll see what happens.
“So that’s really just where my mindset’s at. I’m loving Philly. I loved my time in Pittsburgh, so I’m excited to head into year four next.”
Pickett still keeps in touch with Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth and outside linebacker Alex Highsmith and a few others. He even played some golf with Highsmith in Florida this past weekend.
“You develop such strong bonds playing football,” Pickett said. “Especially at this level with how much time that gets put into it, during the season, OTAs, training camp, being in Latrobe, being in dorm rooms.”
Pickett also told Pat Bostick of 93.7 The Fan that he’ll be returning for the Panthers Blue-Gold Spring Game in early April.
“Really excited for it,” Pickett said. “Really excited to get back to Pitt and see all the guys, all the coaches and see how the team is looking this year.”