Kenny Pickett pushes back on reports claiming he handled Steelers exit poorly

The Pittsburgh Steelers parted ways with Kenny Pickett this past Friday, trading the third-year quarterback to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Following the announcement of the trade, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that the Steelers made the decision to move on from Pickett due to his poor handling of the arrival of Russell Wilson. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated added that Pickett initially communicated to the Steelers he was fine competing with Wilson for the starting job but went the other way when the team signed Wilson in free agency earlier in the week.

Pickett, speaking with the Philadelphia media for the first time Monday, refuted the reports that he handled Wilson’s arrival to Pittsburgh poorly.

“I think the communication is what it is. It was behind closed doors. I’m confident in the way that I handled it. I handled it the way I should have handled it,” Pickett said, via ESPN. “I’m excited to be here. It worked out so well that Philly was the place I ended up landing in. Everything happens for a reason and I’m right where I’m supposed to be.”

The Steelers sent Pickett and pick No. 120 in the 2024 NFL Draft to the Eagles in exchange for pick No. 98 and two 2025 seventh-round picks. Pickett, who grew up an Eagles fan, said a breakup between he and the Steelers “was time.”

“I just thought it was time,” Pickett said. “… I wanted to get a chance to go somewhere else and continue to grow my career. The fact that it is in Philly, the place that I grew up, found the love for the game here, with a great coaching staff, great players… I think it’s an awesome opportunity to join this team.”

Kenny Pickett, Steelers opt for divorce after two seasons

Pickett, 25, and the Steelers’ marriage lasted just two seasons. Pittsburgh went 14-10 in his starts, though the offense often struggled. He threw for 4,474 yards, 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions on 62.6% passing. 

Pickett dealt with a high ankle sprain late in the 2023 season which required surgery. Mason Rudolph started the final three games of the season, leading the Steelers to a perfect 3-0 record and a spot in the postseason. There were reports that Pickett refused to play the role of backup to Rudolph once he was healthy. Pickett pushed back on those reports.

“I think that goes back to a lot of the communication behind closed doors that didn’t go… how it was getting released,” Pickett said. “There was a plan there for that game. It went down exactly as it was planned to go down that entire week. I was coming off the ankle surgery, so it is what it is. Like I’ve been saying, though, very happy to be here.”

Pickett will now serve as backup to Jalen Hurts in a quarterback room which also includes Tanner McKee.