Report: George Pickens was late to Pittsburgh Steelers Christmas Day game vs. Chiefs

George Pickens is the most reliable offensive player on the Pittsburgh Steelers. That is not in question. What is, however, is Pickens’ future in the Steel City.

Pickens’ behavior on the football field has come into question at times, even from head coach Mike Tomlin, who said the wideout needed to “grow up” after he was flagged for two unsportsmanlike penalties during the Week 13 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. But that’s not the only infraction against Pickens.

The 23-year-old missed the next two games before returning for the Christmas Day matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. But according to Mike DeFabo of The Athletic, Pickens arrived late for the game.

“Tomlin asks players to report to games at least two hours before kickoff,” DeFabo wrote Tuesday. “On Dec. 25, Pickens walked through the media entrance an hour and 25 minutes before kickoff. That was after inactive players were announced.”

In January 2018, another Steelers star showed up late to the stadium. It was running back Le’Veon Bell for the playoff loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. That was Bell’s final game as a Steeler, as he sat out the entirety of the 2018 season while in the middle of a contract dispute with team.

The George Pickens dilemma

The following week, a frustrated Pickens was seen yelling at fans inside Acrisure Stadium. Pickens had to be corralled by tight end Pat Freiermuth, an incident which Tomlin said he didn’t see.

Now, Pickens enters the 2025 season in the fourth and final year of his rookie deal. Based on numbers alone, a contract extension is warranted. Pickens led the Steelers with 900 yards on 59 receptions this season despite missing three games. He recorded 1,140 yards in 2023, a season in which he caught passes from Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph.

Pickens is highly talented, but it’s worth questioning if his behavior will lead to him playing elsewhere in the future.

“He’s just got to grow up, man,” Tomlin said last month. “It’s an emotional game. These divisional games are big. He got a target on his back because he’s George. He understands that. But he’s got to grow up. He’s got to grow up in a hurry.”