Stephen A. Smith Rips Omar Khan over Steelers QB Situation

ESPN analyst Steven A. Smith had some harsh words for Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan on his show First Take on Friday, after Khan said on Thursday that the Steelers have “full faith” in quarterback Kenny Pickett going forward.

“I’m not enamored,” Smith said, while running down Pickett’s statistical accomplishments from his two seasons as the Steelers’ starting quarterback.

“Omar, that’s pathetic, and I’m not going to sit up here and allow you nor anybody else to lie to Steelers Nation and act like this suffices, this OK. … Here’s the deal. Joe Burrow is in that division. Lamar Jackson, the two-time league MVP is in that division. Deshaun Watson is in that division. And you’re going to stand up there in front of the cameras and the microphones and tell Steelers Nation, Kenny Pickett, we good. What? What? I don’t want to hear that. Hell with that.”

LMAAAAAO

Stephen A has me rolling. 😂

He is spitting though. pic.twitter.com/hhjK7CzSln

— Baku 🐧 (@Mazursky8895) March 1, 2024

Smith suggested that the Steelers should make a move to acquire another quarterback like Justin Fields, Russell Wilson or Kirk Cousins this offseason.

“Anything but what they have. This is not good. … Do something other than look in the camera with a straight face, with a hot mic, talking about Kenny Pickett, we good with that. No we are not. I’m speaking on behalf of the city of Pittsburgh. I’m speaking on behalf of Steelers Nation.”

Khan has been generally well received since taking over from Kevin Colbert in 2022, but if he does indeed make the decision to go into the 2024 season with Pickett as the team’s starting quarterback, that could certainly cause his early popularity to wane.